Chapter 704

The development of the war situation is more and more unfavorable to our side. In the coming days, the settlements, which had been calm, may become the targets of the German army. In order to understand the situation of the first regiment after it was moved, I stayed after the meeting to learn about the recent situation of the first regiment from Xie jerikov.

Through the conversation, I know that after the first regiment entered the new camp, due to the limited strength at the beginning, the logistics forces of the group army did not let them act as temporary porters like the fifth regiment. In this way, they have the time and energy to devote themselves to development, so that they can develop and grow the team in a short period of time.

As a matter of fact, when I was still in the division headquarters, I wanted to ask Xie jerikov, where did they come from when so many people were added? It's impossible for everyone to bring their own weapons and food when they joined? On hearing my question, Xie jerikov replied with a smile: "Comrade division, you don't know something. When the fifth regiment was still stationed here, they often sent small teams to fight guerrilla warfare with the Germans in the city. Every time they got something, they seized a lot of German weapons. When they left, most of them moved away, but the rest was enough for us to equip a battalion. After arming a battalion with these equipment, I sent them to the city from time to time to wipe out some isolated and scattered troops, and then bring back the captured equipment. "

After hearing what he said, I asked suspiciously, "even if you send hundreds of soldiers to the city every day, how many weapons can you collect? Do you have more than 2000 or nearly 3000 people in your regiment?"

"When our regiment pulled down from the Highlands, it had almost two battalions of equipment. Some of these weapons were collected from the dead Germans, and some were left from the arsenal of the 35th division of the guards. We moved them here with nothing left. Comrade oberstein, the political commissar, also specially organized a reception team. After dark, he sent them to the city to take in the scattered soldiers and refugees. On the other hand, he went to the places where the fighting had happened to collect the weapons left behind. In a few days, we have gained a lot. "

When he said that, I immediately understood why all the commanders and fighters I saw were equipped with a variety of weapons, including both Soviet weapons and German weapons. Moreover, some of the weapons made by the Soviet Union were used to fight against the white bandits during the domestic revolution. However, in the current situation, it is obviously not obvious that all soldiers should use the same standard of weapons, so I did not entangle in this issue. Instead, I discussed with Xie jerikov about how to defend the residential areas.

When our conversation came to an end, I was surprised to find that it was already dawn outside, and we had been talking all night unconsciously. I stood up, moved my hands and feet, and then said to him, "Comrade xijerikov, I will give you full responsibility for the defense of the residential areas. I believe that with your ability, there should be no problem keeping here. "

Seeing that I was about to leave, he pointed to the German weapons on the table and said, "Sir, I don't think you have any weapons on you. If you encounter with the enemy, it will be a troublesome thing. Why don't you choose two weapons from here and let the political commissar have a look at the German equipment we have captured."

Not to mention that the captured guns were OK. When I mentioned these weapons, I immediately felt like vomiting blood. It had been a good ambush, but because of a soldier's nervousness, he opened fire ahead of time, exposed the target, scared the enemy away, and our plan was on the verge of success. During the meeting, I thought for several times that if the soldier had not died, would sjerikov have ordered him to be shot because of serious military discipline.

I picked up the pistol on the table, looked at it, and put it back again. The failure rate of this kind of pistol is too high. If it gets stuck at the critical time, I can't even save my life. After thinking about it, I picked up a submachine gun, took two clips out of the holster and put them into the pocket of my coat.

When I returned to mamayev post under the protection of more than 20 security soldiers, I met savchenko at the gate of the headquarters. He was still wearing a German uniform and a white towel tied to his left arm. He had just come back, so that he didn't even have time to change his uniform.

I took him into the headquarters. After greeting kirilov and akhromeyev, I asked safchenko to sit down and report on the implementation of the counter insurgency mission.

Safchenko stood straight in front of us and reported to us without expression: "last night, we arrived near the camp of Dongfang camp and attacked a patrol. Except for the taxi officer, the rest of the soldiers were tied up by us and hid in a hidden place. Then I took a few soldiers to pretend to be patrols and took the sergeant with me to take us into the camp.

The sergeant took us to the command post in the barracks and met captain Karpov. When we mentioned our true identity to him, Karpov immediately pointed his gun at us and yelled out to the guards outside, trying to catch us all.

Fortunately, at the critical moment, I suddenly thought of general Petrov's telegram, and immediately thought that he mentioned his former superior. When he heard the general's name, he was obviously stunned. Then he waved those guards who rushed in to leave and warned them that no one was allowed to tell what had happened, or they would be punished severely.

In order to show my sincerity, I also asked the soldiers who followed me into the camp to leave and prepare to communicate with Karpov in private. After all, if there are many people who know something, it is inevitable that there will be the possibility of leakage. "

"Comrade safchenko, you are right!" When kirilov heard this, he couldn't help interrupting and praising safchenko. Then he urged him: "go on, what happened later?"

"There were only me and him left in the command post. He asked me to sit down, looked me up and down, and then asked warily," who are you and what's your purpose here? "

I replied, "I am a political instructor of the independent division. I have come to talk with you on the order of my teacher and political commissar. I hope you will get lost and turn to the light."

After hearing this, he was surprised and asked, "is it the independent division who sticks to the mamayev post?"

I nodded and said with certainty, "yes, it is the independent division who is on the mamayev post and makes it impossible for the Germans to move forward."

After listening to this, Karpov's face became very ugly. After a while, he said, "what's the purpose of your coming here today? Is it to persuade me to surrender?"

"You can say that!" Seeing that he told me what I came for, I would not beat around the bush with him and say to him frankly: "however, I came more for you, Captain Karpov. I'm afraid you don't know. In the eyes of your old superior, general Petrov, you are an excellent commander. If you left Odessa with him, you might be his battalion commander or even commander now. "

"What?" Karpov stood up with some gaffe and paced back and forth in the tent, his face uncertain. After a long time, he hesitated and asked, "after a long time, does general Petrov remember me?"

I also stood up, went to him, and said to him in a low voice, "Comrade General told us that what he has never forgotten is that in the battle of defending Odessa, when you were talking with him, when the German attacked, you left the telephone to fight for bayonets with the enemy."

After hearing these words, the muscles on Karpov's face twitched violently. He stood still, as if thinking about where he should go

"It seems that your words have shaken his heart." When I heard this, I couldn't help but put in a word, because I couldn't guess the final result from savchenko's expressionless face, so I had to ask him for an answer: "what did he say in the end?"

"After thinking for a long time, Karpov sat down in his position again and hesitated to say:" according to the order issued by Stalin, we captured commanders and fighters belong to the traitors of our motherland. What I really want to know now is what kind of fate will be waiting for us if we return to the army anyway. "

After hearing his sharp question, I hesitated for a long time. Finally, I could only vaguely tell him: "Comrade division commander once said in person that once you lead the army, she can ensure the safety of all of you."

After listening to me, he hesitated for a while, put forward several conditions, and said that if we can meet all his conditions, he can lead the troops to come here. "

"What conditions?" Kirilov asked nervously.

"Karpov put forward four conditions: first, the personal safety of all officers and men in the battalion must be guaranteed. Because they were selected from the captivity camp and incorporated into the East camp, they fought with their former compatriots in different places and caused varying degrees of losses to those troops.

Second, the organizational structure of the eastern battalion should not be disrupted. Political workers can be dispatched, but the existing officers cannot leave the troops, and the soldiers cannot be dispersed into other troops.

Third, we must ensure the safety of our dependents. As far as he knows, many relatives of the captured officers and soldiers were sent to Siberia, which had a great impact on the morale of the troops. So I hope we can contact our superiors and pardon the exiled families of the officers and soldiers.

Fourth, the choice of time. Today's barracks are in the pockets of several German divisions. If they are transferred without authorization, they will be found by the surrounding German forces and will not be able to escape from their encirclement. So we can only choose the German army to act when they are fighting with our army and relax their vigilance, so as to ensure that the whole battalion can be pulled out smoothly. "

When safchenko finished, he was silent, waiting for us to express our opinions. As for the four conditions proposed by Karpov, I have thought about them in my heart, which is quite reasonable. But is it workable under the specific political environment of the Soviet Union? Based on this consideration, I did not immediately express my position. Instead, I asked kirilov for his opinions: "Comrade political commissar, what do you think of these four conditions?"

As soon as kirilov slapped the table, he stood up and said angrily, "shameful traitor, you dare to bargain with us. In my opinion, we should immediately send out night Raiders to wipe them out, and send all their relatives and friends to Siberia to work hard all their lives. "

Kirilov's attitude is completely in my expectation, and it should still be the view of most people at present. Otherwise, safchenko's expression will not be so serious when he tells about his meeting with Karpov.

Instead of taking kirilov's words, I continued to ask akhromeyev, "Comrade chief of staff, what do you think of Captain Karpov's four conditions?" Akhromeyev first glanced at kirilov, then said cautiously: "according to the telegram from general Petrov to us, this Karpov had made achievements before. If he had not been captured by the German army, he might have made more contributions in the battlefield now. Personally, I think we should strive for such a commander with rich combat experience. In the words of the division commander, if Karpov's troops can join our army, they will strengthen our army and weaken the enemy. At the same time, it will also be a huge blow to the enemy's morale. " Akhromeyev's words made my face smile. It seems that he understood exactly what I thought in my heart and directly supported my point of view in his words. When he finished, I nodded and said slowly, "commissar, chief of staff, I personally agree with Captain Karpov's four conditions. However, before making the final decision, it is better to report it to the headquarters of the group army and let the commander and the comrades of the military commissar make a judgment first. "“ Is that all right? " Kirilov was frightened by what I said. He habitually looked left and right first, and found that the room was full of his own people. This is why he asked with scruples about my practice of handing over contradictions: "Comrade Stalin once publicly announced that we have no prisoners of war, only traitors of our motherland. Now you have to report the four conditions proposed by the traitor to the higher authorities. Aren't you afraid of causing trouble? Perhaps the commander and the comrades of the military commissar will be furious when they hear these four conditions. " I waved my hand and said euphemistically, "Comrade political commissar, you are worried too much. I have reported my plan to the headquarters and obtained the consent of the commander and the military Commissar. No matter what conditions the other party put forward, I think the leaders at the higher level have already been psychologically prepared. Besides, I personally don't think that Captain Karpov's four conditions are excessive. If it's not for my limited power, I can make my own decisions and agree to them. "