Chapter 651

When I heard the word "prison camp" in my mouth, Sergey's body trembled involuntarily, as if it represented his painful memories.

"Tell me, comrade Sergei." Akhromeyev said to him in a friendly way: "tell us about your experience in the German POW camp, and let all our commanders and fighters know about the brutality of the bandits. Only in this way can we arouse our common hatred and defeat the damned German invaders."

After listening to akhromeyev's words, Sergei nodded and said with a solemn expression: "well, comrade division chief and chief of staff, since you want to know about the German POW camp, I will tell you in detail.

We are the first row of prisoners of war sent to Vitebsk, and two thirds of them are wounded. More than 3000 of us were caught up in a lorry. The crowding in the carriage could not be described in words. The wounded were bleeding and dirty scars could be seen everywhere. During the three-day journey, many people in each carriage lost too much blood and died, as well as causing blood infections. There were groans, curses, sighs of dying people everywhere, and the pain of swinging. Because of hunger, lack of water and air, not only the wounded, but also the healthy prisoners of war died in large numbers. In addition to death due to injury, there are other losses. Every time the train stops to replenish water, the German will ask someone in each carriage to fetch water or empty the toilet. They left the car for a short time. If they did not return to the car in time after hearing the German whistle, they would be shot and killed by the German without hesitation.

When we arrived at the POW camp, we were placed in the open air by the Germans. In autumn, there was no protection. We were exposed to the wind and rain day and night. The German army did not even prepare a simple shelter for us. The prisoners of war tried to find something to shelter us from the wind and rain. In order to have a place to live, we even dug holes in the ground. In the end, many people died in the holes dug by ourselves. Most of the prisoners suffered from edema, scurvy, endless diarrhea and tuberculosis caused by hunger. He was so hungry that he spent all day looking for anything to eat: grass, tree roots, insects, leftovers from the canteen, etc.

Every day, the most terrible things happen. Every day, people die of disease and starvation, and the bodies are everywhere, all skinny. The prisoners ate anything they could find, including grass and poisonous mushrooms

When he said this, I raised my hand to interrupt him and asked with concern, "Comrade Sergei, is it because you are in the prison camp and you don't have enough food and clothing that you are so skinny now?"

I didn't expect Sergey to shake his head and reply, "no, comrade Rita. I only stayed in the prison camp for more than two months and I managed to escape."

"How did you get out?" Akhromeyev, who has been the audience, suddenly asked.

Sergei took a sip from the teapot on the table and continued: "there are not many guards in the POW camp. Except for a few German soldiers, the rest are soldiers from the eastern camp. And the camp has no walls, only two barbed wire. A captured second lieutenant secretly organized more than 200 prisoners of war. On a rainstorm night, when the guards relaxed their vigilance, he led us to put quilts on the barbed wire and successfully escaped. "

It is said that Sergei and his wife escaped from the prison camp in an organized way. Akhromeyev couldn't help but ask curiously, "Comrade soldier, I don't know where the second lieutenant is now?"

When Sergey heard the question, he lowered his head in silence. After a while, he bit his teeth and said, "sacrifice. On our way to escape, we were found by the enemy. He died to protect us. "

After he calmed down a little, I asked, "where did you go and how did you come to the independent division after you escaped from the prison camp?"

Sergey said to me bitterly, "Rita, when we escaped from the prison camp, there were more than 200 people. After more than half a month's long journey, there were only seven left. After a lot of hardships, we came to the city occupied by our army and went to the local garrison to report, but we were detained. The commander of the army said that the Supreme Command had issued an order that all captured commanders and fighters, regardless of whether they had resisted tenaciously before being captured, would be sent to the punishment camp. In this way, several of our comrades who escaped from the prison camp were sent to a punishment camp in the forest. It was not until recently that we were added to your independent division as recruits. "

In fact, I don't agree with Stalin's inhumane order. You know, I was once captured. If others knew, according to this order, I would be sent to the punishment camp. So in this case, I can only choose silence. Just as I was in a dilemma about how to comfort Sergei, the curtain of the door was lifted, and captain horushov and safchenko came in one after another to help me out.

With a sigh of relief, I stood up and said to Sergei, "well, comrade Sergei, I know all about you. Now I have something to discuss with your battalion commander. Go back first."

After Sergei got out of the command post, safchenko looked at his back and asked me in a low voice, "Comrade division, do you know this soldier?"

I nodded. Before I could speak, akhromeyev said with a smile, "you are right, comrade safchenko. This comrade Sergey worked in the marriage registry before the war, and our teacher's marriage certificate was handled with his help. "

There was an incredible expression on horushov's face, and he said with some exaggeration: "Oh, no way?! It's incredible that there should be such a coincidence. "

"It's true, comrade captain." I briefly told them the story of Rita and oshanin getting their marriage certificate, and then asked safchenko, "Comrade political instructor, do you know that Sergey was captured?"

Safchenko nodded hard and said definitely, "yes, I've heard of him." Obviously, he misunderstood the original meaning of my question and explained cleverly, "Comrade division, although he is your acquaintance, you must know that the supreme command once issued an order: all the commanders and fighters captured by the German army, whether they have resisted or not..."

I didn't wait for him to finish, then I raised my hand to stop him, turned my head and asked horushov, "Comrade captain, what's the situation in the camp?"

Horushov quickly straightened up and reported to me: "report to the division commander, since our battalion withdrew from the 107.5 highland, we have been resting in the tunnel for two days. Every day, when they hear the sound of guns coming from outside, the commanders and fighters are very frustrated. They are looking forward to meeting the Germans again as soon as possible. " At this point, he looked back at the door, and then asked cautiously, "Sir, when will we send our battalion to highland 107.5 again?"

Seeing that horushov was so eager to fight, I felt very happy, but I could only tell him with regret: "Comrade captain, highland 107.5 and the residential quarters behind it have been assigned to the 39th regiment of guards and the 42nd brigade of infantry. The task of our division is to stick to the mamayev post and protect the city and the transport line of Volga River."

Before leaving the command post, I said to safchenko with great care: "Comrade political instructor, as a political worker, I hope you can do a good job in the political and ideological work in the camp. For example, Sergei and other soldiers with similar captured experience can tell other commanders and fighters about their tragic experience in the prison camp, so that everyone can understand the cruelty of the German army, so as to arouse everyone's common hatred for the enemy, and also to break the illusions of those wavering elements about the Germans. "

Akhromeyev and I wandered a few more places in the position before returning to the headquarters. As soon as I saw kirilov's face, I asked frankly, "Comrade political commissar, is there any new order from the headquarters?"

"Yes, comrade oshanina." Kirilov said and handed over a telegram. At the same time, he said: "as the troops holding high 107.5 suffered heavy losses in the daytime battle, the group army intends to hand over the defense of the highland to the 92nd infantry brigade, which is about to cross the river. In order to avoid misunderstandings, we should send a telegram to inform us in advance. "

As for this friendly army that is going to fight side by side, I asked curiously, "Comrade political commissar, where does the 92nd infantry brigade come from?"

"The 92nd infantry brigade is said to be an infantry brigade, but most of the soldiers are sailors from the Baltic Fleet, but they are under the command of the army."

When I heard kirilov say that the new friendly army was made up of sailors, I felt a lot more at ease. In my impression, the combat effectiveness of the navy is much higher than that of the army officers and men. If they stick to the high ground, I don't have to worry about sending reinforcements.

The next morning, busmanov, who hurried in from the outside, reported to us: "report to the division commander, political commissar and chief of staff that a troop is passing by at the foot of our hillside."

"Is it a sailor?" Kirilov asked.

"Yes, about a battalion, led by a navy captain."

Since the friendly troops passed under our hillside, I think it's necessary to say hello to others. After all, in the coming days, our two troops will fight side by side, so I said to kirilov, "come on, comrade political commissar, let's go down and have a look."

The two of us took the guards to the foot of the hillside. We saw hundreds of sailors in black Navy uniforms and brimless caps. They were standing in a long line, marching towards the direction of 107.5.

Seeing us coming down the mountain, a tall commander with a big cornice hat came running. He stopped two or three steps away from us, raised his hand and saluted, and respectfully reported, "Hello, comrade commander."

After returning the salute, I carefully looked at the young commander in front of me, and then politely asked, "Comrade captain, what part of you are?"

"Report to the colonel, I'm the commander of the first battalion of the 92nd infantry brigade, and I've been ordered to lead my battalion to highland 107.5 to receive defense."

"Nice to meet you, comrade captain." Kirilov said, shaking hands with him, and introducing the situation of the highland to the other side: "the north slope of the highland is gentle, easy to attack and difficult to defend, so your battalion should build more fortifications after entering the position, so as to resist the fierce attack of the enemy."

"Thank you for your reminding, comrade political commissar of the regiment." The captain said politely, "although there are fewer people in our battalion, it is not ambiguous to fight the Germans. As long as we have one more man, the Germans will not want to occupy our position. "

"Good job, comrade captain." Kirilov patted him on the shoulder and said with appreciation, "I believe you sailors are all good. You will be able to hold the position firmly."

After saluting us, the captain turned and went after the troops.

Looking at the disappearing Marines, kirilov suddenly asked me, "Comrade oshanina, after seeing yesterday's cruel offensive and defensive war, do you think they can hold the position?"

To tell you the truth, in my memory, I have no impression of this 92nd infantry brigade. It is estimated that it has a poor record. Otherwise, it will at least leave a brilliant record in the history of the patriotic war. Hearing kirilov's question, I gave a wry smile and said vaguely, "as long as these sailors don't collapse under the German artillery attack and play their real fighting power, I believe they can still hold the position."

I looked up at the sky. Although it was bright, the enemy had not launched a new offensive. Since the fifth regiment moved to the residential area behind the mamayev post, I have never inspected it. Now kirilov and I are both outside, so on a whim, I said to kirilov, "Comrade political commissar, there is captain akhromeyev in the headquarters. Let's go to the defense area of the fifth regiment."

"Well, that's a good proposal. I agree." After kirilov finished, he called a guard soldier beside him and asked him to rush back to the division headquarters to report our whereabouts to akhromeyev.

As there was no means of transportation, we had to walk there.

As he walked, kirilov said thoughtfully, "Comrade oshanina, I have an idea that in such a long time, the fifth regiment has hardly participated in the battle. Now the battle is getting bigger and bigger. Do you think it's time to consider letting the fifth regiment fight as well? "

After listening to what he said, I nodded and said with approval, "Comrade political commissar, I also have this idea. Although the fifth regiment was the last force to be formed, their combat effectiveness was no less than that of the first regiment. Today, I'm going to give commander Oleg a little combat assignment. "

"Where are you going to send them to fight, the city or the mamayev post?"

Without thinking, I replied: "the area of mamayev post is not large. At present, there are three regiments. There is no need to transfer another regiment. I'm going to send them to the city. It is not for them to engage in positional warfare with the German troops who have invaded the city, but in guerrilla warfare in the city. "

"Guerrilla warfare? Do you mean to let our regular troops, like guerrillas, fight guerrilla warfare with the enemy? "

"Yes, if we set out in the city to fight positional warfare with the German army, their dominant aircraft, tanks and artillery will cause heavy casualties to our troops. Since we use guerrilla warfare and are tied up with the enemy, their aircraft and artillery will lose their use. "

Although kirilov has long been aware of many of my whims, he hesitated when he heard this kind of play: "is this suitable? The individual quality of the German army is higher than that of our soldiers, and there are more troops than us. I am worried that if we really fight, we will not be sure of winning. "

"Comrade political commissar, don't worry." If my political commissar can't convince me of the tasks to be assigned to the fifth regiment, will my subordinates carry out my orders without any discount? So I tried my best to tell him what I thought: "doesn't the fifth regiment still have a militia battalion? If we say that the degree of familiarity with the city, the German is not comparable to them. So I plan to mix up the militia battalion with other companies, take the platoon as a unit, and take advantage of their familiarity with the terrain to fight guerrilla warfare with the enemy in the city, so as to eliminate as many enemies who rush into the city as possible. "

Seeing that he had been a little moved by me, I said while the iron was hot: "besides, the north side of the city is only composed of many factory areas, and the space for the troops to move is relatively large. Even if the enemy's forces are several times more than ours, they can't trap our troops."

Kirilov is indeed a good political commissar. After listening to my analysis, he did not object any more. After nodding his head, he specially reminded me: "you intend to send the fifth regiment into the city to fight guerrilla warfare with the German army. I suggest that you immediately report to the headquarters of the group army so that the commanders can have a clear idea."

"The telephone in the command post of the fifth regiment can directly communicate with the headquarters. When we get there, I'll call the commander in person."

As we talked, we came to the defense area of the fifth regiment unconsciously. The two men, Oleg and veroll, who had been informed by the sentry, took the initiative to meet us with several staff members of the regiment.

Oleg saluted us and asked in surprise, "teacher, commissar, how did you come here? Is there any new operational order to be issued to us? "

Kirilov and I looked at each other, then said with a smile, "it seems that this lieutenant commander Oleg is really not simple. As soon as we appear here, we know that we will give him orders to fight."

After his guess was confirmed, Oleg said nervously: "teacher, political commissar, if you have any orders, you can give them by phone. How can you risk coming here? You know, just a few blocks from here, there are German troops

When I heard that there were German troops nearby, I was shocked in a cold sweat. Kirilov and I swaggered to the 5th regiment with a few people. It was a rhythm of death. However, in front of so many subordinates, I still tried to keep calm, and told veroll: "Comrade veroll, you go to call the militia battalion commander and gramus. I have a task to assign to you."