Chapter 1516 Moving towards the Dnieper River (10)
After listening to Sokov's explanation, Ponedelin stepped forward, held Sokov's hand, and said with tears of gratitude: "General Sokov, thank you, thank you so much! With your words, I feel relieved."
.To tell you the truth, I am really worried that most of the soldiers and I will not have a chance to return to our hometown alive."
"General Ponedelin, don't be so polite." Sokov knew that his future would never stop at being a group army commander. If he wanted to hold a higher position, he must have a group of capable subordinates, and Bo
Nedelin is undoubtedly one of the qualified candidates.
After he asked Ponedelin to sit down, he personally poured him a cup of hot tea, and then asked curiously: "General Ponedelin, can you tell me how you were captured in the first place?"
After hearing Sokov's question, Ponedelin took a sip of tea from the teapot and began to tell his story: "One month after the war broke out, my 12th Army, General Muzychenko's
The 6th Army and General Tyulenev's 18th Army from the Southern Front, a total of 18 infantry divisions and two mechanized corps, set up defenses in the direction of Uman to block German troops trying to rush towards Kiev.
Due to the successful breakthrough of the German army in the Zhytomir area, our three armies were surrounded by the German army. Although our troops did not receive support from aviation, in the face of the German army that had air superiority and equipment superiority, the commanders and fighters still
They defended tenaciously and made the enemy pay a huge price.
My troops stood firm in the village of Podvisoko and fought tenaciously until August 15th. As the enemy rushed near my headquarters, I led the members of the headquarters to fight with the enemy. After I ran out of bullets, I
He used bayonets and shovels to engage in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy, and was unfortunately captured after being seriously wounded."
Having said this, Ponedelin stood up while holding on to the table, took off his tattered military uniform, and said to Sokov and others: "Look, this is the wound left by the Germans on me."
Seeing the shocking wounds on Ponedelin's chest and abdomen, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little scared. Samyko and Lunev also came closer to take a look. Samyko even pointed at the wounds and said to Lunev:
"Comrade Military Commissar, you see, this wound was caused by a 98K rifle, and this wound on the abdomen was caused by a bayonet."
After seeing Ponedelin's wounds, Sokov couldn't help but said with emotion: "General Ponedelin, you are really lucky. You survived more than a dozen wounds on your body."
"Yes, there are a total of fifteen wounds on my body, some caused by German bullets and some stabbed by bayonets." Ponejelin said to everyone while buttoning his clothes: "After I was injured and captured, I was in the hospital.
It took a full two months of treatment before he was completely saved."
After Sokov learned about Ponedelin's capture, he felt that the chance of him becoming a traitor was almost zero, so he promptly changed the subject: "General Ponedelin, as far as I know, during the Battle of Uman,
Our army has more than 100,000 captured commanders and fighters. Do you know where they are now?"
After listening to Sokov's question, Ponedelin showed a painful expression on his face: "General Sokov, according to what I learned when I was treating injuries in the German military hospital, our army numbered 100,000 in the Battle of Uman.
Many combatants were captured and imprisoned by the Germans in a huge mine.
After they were imprisoned in the mines by the enemy, the Germans not only did not provide them with food, they did not even provide drinking water. I heard that in the end, the prisoners of war were so hungry that they began to eat dirt. But after the dirt entered their stomachs,
It cannot be digested at all, and a ball will form in the stomach, which cannot be excreted at all. People will die from severe pain due to stomach distension..."
"Eat dirt, hum!" Lunev heard this, sneered twice and said disdainfully: "This is the first time I heard someone say that dirt can be eaten. This is simply a fantasy."
"Comrade Military Commissar." Ponedelin knew that Lunev had a special status. If he wanted to prove his innocence, he had to convince him first. He quickly defended: "I didn't lie. This is all true."
"Comrade Lunev, I believe General Ponedelin." Ponedelin's words reminded Sokov of the victims who ate Guanyin soil, so he decisively supported his statement, and then raised his chin at him.
, urged: "General Ponejelin, please continue."
"The prisoners of war had no choice but to try to break out of the pit, but the German machine guns drove back those who tried to escape. Maybe they didn't want all the people to starve to death here, so they started to put some food on them, but
The amount of food they provide is too small, and only a small number of commanders and fighters can get some food every day." Ponejelin continued: "As time goes by, people continue to die, and they are tortured to the point where they have no idea of escape.
Just quietly waiting for death to come...
With our army's successive victories, the German army planned to build a defense line on the Dnieper River, so they transferred prisoners of war from various places to build fortifications. It was under such circumstances that we were taken to Kremenchug by the Germans to build a defense line.
At that time, there were more than 4,000 prisoners of war. On the way to Kremenchug, many prisoners of war fell to the ground while walking due to lack of physical strength. The Germans would not hesitate to shoot prisoners of war who fell on the ground.
Shoot them to prevent these people from becoming a source of soldiers for the guerrillas in the future.
In this way, after the team of more than 4,000 people arrived in Kremenchug, only more than 3,000 people remained. When building the right bank fortifications, many people were killed by the Germans every day because of their inactivity and sabotage.
Shooting. If you hadn't rescued us in time and waited for the defense project to be completed, I'm afraid there wouldn't be many people left."
"Lieutenant Samoylov," Sokov and Ponedelin chatted for a while, and suddenly found that the other two generals did not appear with Ponedelin, so he frowned and asked Samoylov, who was standing aside.
Ilov: "Where are Lieutenant General Muzichenko and Major General Kirillov, and why didn't they come in with you?"
"General Sokov," hearing Sokov scolding Samoylov, Ponedelin quickly helped him to relieve the siege and said: "You know, there are more than 2,000 commanders and soldiers who rushed to Merefa Fortress. Everyone is worried.
They will be sent to Siberia, their mood is somewhat low, and they need a few people with high prestige to comfort them. Lieutenant General Muzichenko and Major General Kirillov will stay behind to do the comfort work."
When Sokov heard what Ponedelin said, he asked with some surprise: "General Ponedelin, didn't they come back in the same car as you?"
"Yes," Ponejelin nodded and said, "General Fomenko left a jeep for us, and we were supposed to ride there together. But Lieutenant General Muzichenko said that my
Since he is the weakest, I was asked to drive here alone. He and Major General Kirillov passed with the commanders and soldiers, and were responsible for calming everyone's emotions on the way."
After figuring out what was going on, Sokov waved to Samoilov and asked him to leave the headquarters, and then asked Ponedelin: "General Ponedelin, I have one more question to ask you.
"
"Excuse me, General Sokov."
"I heard that on the leaflets that the Germans airdropped to our army, there were photos of you and German officers. There was even a photo of you and a German general. You even talked and laughed with each other." Sokov asked:
"What exactly is going on?"
"General Sokov, don't you understand yet that this is a German conspiracy?"
"Conspiracy, what conspiracy?" Before Sokov could speak, Lunev interjected and asked, "You might as well tell me." The reason why he was eager to talk was because he understood Sokov's psychology and needed it.
He wanted to find a group of capable commanders to help him. He didn't want the stain on Ponedelin to affect Sokov's future, so he had to figure out many issues.
"I had just recovered from my injuries and was discharged from the hospital. Suddenly one day, a German officer came and told me that several higher-ranking officers wanted to visit me in the prisoner of war camp. Maybe he was afraid that I would be in conflict with him.
, he also specifically emphasized that these officers had all participated in the military parade with me at the Brest Fortress."
"Military parade at Brest Fortress?" Sokov heard this and turned to Samyko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, have you heard about this?"
Just when Samyko shook his head, Lunev interrupted again and said: "I know about this."
"Oh, Comrade Military Commissar, you know." Sokov asked curiously: "What on earth is going on?"
"In September 1939, our country and Germany launched an attack on Poland at the same time, and then the troops of the two countries met at the Brest Fortress." Seeing that Sokov did not understand the matter, Samyko explained to him: "The meeting
Shortly after, a joint military parade was held there."
After listening to Lunev's brief introduction, Sokov understood the reason why Ponedelin agreed to take a photo with the German officer. He turned to Ponedelin and asked: "General Ponedelin, if I am not wrong, what is your intention?"
So the reason for taking photos with these German officers is because they are old acquaintances of you, right?"
"Exactly, General Sokov." Ponedelin replied: "The German general who took a photo with me was sitting next to me during the military parade at Brest Fortress. When the photo was taken, he was talking to me
Let’s recall some details from the original military parade. You also know that our ability to capture the Brest Fortress was an undoubted victory. It is normal to feel happy when you hear other people’s praises. But I didn’t expect that the German photographers were there.
The photos taken under those circumstances were used to promote our army."
"General Ponedelin, I have basically understood your situation." Sokov had now confirmed that Ponedelin was not a traitor at all, and the verdict against him at that time was a complete mistake.
He smiled and said to Ponijelin: "You must be tired after sitting in the car for so long. I will arrange for you to rest first and call you when something happens."
After Sokov asked a staff officer to take Ponedelin away, he turned to Lunev and asked: "Comrade Military Commissar, do you think General Ponedelin is telling the truth?"
Lunev thought for a while, then nodded and replied: "I believe what he said is true."
Hearing what Luniev said, Sokov felt very happy: "So, do you believe that he was not a traitor at all?"
"Comrade Commander, it's no use just believing in me." Lunev said with a wry smile: "The key is to let the people above know that Ponedelin is not a traitor."
After Runev's reminder, Sokov felt that he should report the matter to Zhukov immediately and asked him to come here as soon as possible. He called the director of the communications corps and told him: "Comrade director of the communications corps, please help me."
I got through Marshal Zhukov's call and I have something important that I need to report to him immediately."
While waiting for the call to be connected, Sokov asked Samyko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, is there any latest news from Klemenko?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Samyko quickly picked up a telegram he received not long ago and handed it to Sokov: "The artillery and tank units that arrived not long ago are cooperating with the 98th Guards Division.
Launch a final attack on the stubborn enemy in the city. If they attack, they will be able to capture the city before the 84th Infantry Division arrives."
"Not bad, not bad," Sokov said after receiving the telegram and reading the contents carefully: "As long as we control Kremenchug, it will be equivalent to cutting off the enemy's retreat in Poltava.
A battle of defeat may turn into a battle of annihilation.”
"Yes, that's right." As Sokov's chief of staff, Samyko naturally understood the difference between a war of annihilation and a war of defeat. If the German army's retreat had not been cut off, and they saw the Soviet army's fierce offensive, they might give up their current situation.
"Once the defeat turns into a battle of annihilation, the enemy's strength will be greatly weakened, which will be very powerful for our next operation."
"How about the bridge over the Dnieper?" Sokov continued.
"The troops occupying the bridge are reinforcing the fortifications at the moment and have not encountered enemy attacks yet."
While Sokov and Samyko were talking, the director of the communications corps suddenly shouted: "Comrade Commander, Marshal Zhukov's call has been connected, and he is waiting to talk to you online."
Sokov walked up to the director of the communications corps, took the microphone from his hand, put it to his ear and said respectfully: "Hello, Comrade Marshal, I am Sokov."
"Misha," Zhukov guessed what Sokov would be looking for for him, and asked quickly: "Did Ponedelin and the others come to your place?"
"Yes, General Ponejelin has arrived at my place, and I chatted with him for a while."
Zhukov asked calmly: "What did you talk about?"
"Asked him about how he was captured and about those photos."
"Then what conclusion did you draw?"
"Ponedelin did not become a traitor. The contents written on the German leaflets were all lies and were intended to undermine the morale of our army." From the tone of Zhukov's words, Sokov seemed to be very fond of Ponedelin.
Sympathizing, he struck while the iron was hot and said: "Comrade Marshal, if you have time, you might as well go to Merefa Fortress and talk to Ponedelin in person. Maybe you can get the answer you want."
"Well, I will rush there as soon as possible." After Zhukov said this, he changed the subject in time: "By the way, how is the situation over there in Klementchug?"
Fortunately, Sokov had just learned about the situation in Kremenchug from Samyko, so he could answer the question raised by Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, the bridge on the Dnieper River is in the hands of our army. Guard the bridge.
The troops were reinforcing their fortifications and preparing to meet the German attack.
The fighting in the city is still going on. The artillery and tank units newly arrived in Kremenchug are cooperating with the infantry to launch a final attack on the stubborn enemies in the city. At the same time, I also dispatched the 84th Infantry Regiment of General Fomenko.
Division, rush to Kremenchug for reinforcements to ensure that the enemy’s retreat route in Poltava can be completely cut off.”