"Ah, you don't know the specific location?" Kharitoyev's words made Sokov's heart freeze. He said regretfully: "That's such a pity."
"Comrade Commander, don't worry." Military Commissioner Gorokhov interjected: "Although we don't know the specific location, I don't think it will be difficult to find it."
Gorokhov's words gave Sokov renewed hope: "Really, Comrade Military Commissar? Can we really find the mine where our prisoners of war are held?"
"Comrade Commander, if it is true, as Lieutenant Kharitoev said, that the Germans imprisoned 20,000 to 30,000 prisoners of war in the mine, it proves that the mine is an open-pit mine, and the area must be large to accommodate
There are so many people. As long as we search the mine based on this clue, we can find the place."
Sokov turned and asked Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, do you know that there is such a huge mine near Uman?"
"I seem to have heard that there is such a mine." After hearing this, Smirnov said thoughtfully: "I heard that the diameter of this open-pit mine is more than three hundred meters. If you want to go down to the pit, it is impossible.
Instead of taking a lift, take a car and circle down the mine wall."
"Then do you know where this mine is?" Sokov asked in surprise.
"I'm sorry, Comrade Commander." Unexpectedly, Smirnov shook his head and said: "The name and location of an open-pit mine of this scale are absolutely confidential. I think unless you work in this open-pit mine
Only people, or Uman’s original leader, can know its specific location.”
Sokov couldn't help but want to curse. He finally found out about a place where a large number of prisoners of war were held, but no one knew the location of this open-pit mine.
"Comrade Commander, don't be anxious." Seeing Sokov's frown, Smirnov guessed that he was worried about finding the mine, and quickly comforted him and said: "We have two ways to find this mine.
.”
Sokov raised his eyebrows: "What's the solution? Come on and tell me."
"The first is to notify the commanders of each division and ask them to ask the Ukrainian soldiers in the division to see who knows the location of this open-pit mine."
Before Sokov could speak, Ponedelin spoke first: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I don't think we can do this. You know, the army recently added a large number of Ukrainian recruits, among whom German spies were inevitably mixed. If the news
If it leaks out, the Germans may kill these prisoners of war in order to prevent them from being rescued by us."
Sokov glanced at Ponedelin and felt that what he said made sense. Although asking for information from Ukrainian recruits might be able to find the location of the open-pit mine, it would also increase the risk of leaks. He nodded.
, and asked Smirnov: "Chief of Staff, what is your second solution?"
Smirnov shrugged his shoulders, spread his hands, and continued: "If we can't learn the location of the open-pit mine through the Ukrainian soldiers in the army, we can only take the stupidest method and send people to go deep into that area to conduct reconnaissance.
.”
"Send people to go deep into that area to conduct reconnaissance?" After Smirnov finished speaking, Sokov began to wonder whether he should take this approach. Although he knew that the huge open-pit mine was near Uman, he really wanted to send a reconnaissance
I'm afraid it would take a lot of manpower and a lot of time to search for soldiers. He looked up at Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, how long do you think it will take to get what we need if we send out scouts?"
intelligence?"
"It will take three days at the fastest." As soon as Smirnov finished speaking, he saw Sokov frown slightly and quickly added: "We are more than a hundred kilometers away from Uman. No matter how fast the scouts march,
It will take at least two days to reach the vicinity of Uman. Including the search time, three days is already very fast."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, if the diameter of the open-pit mine is indeed more than three hundred meters as you said, then our reconnaissance plane will be able to detect it in the air." Sokov felt that instead of sending scouts to try his luck, it would be better to invite
The Air Force can help. As long as they send out reconnaissance planes, it may only take an hour or two to get the answers they want.
When Smirnov heard this, he thought this was a good idea. In the past, the air supremacy over the battlefield was controlled alternately by both sides, but now as the situation develops in favor of the Soviet army, the air supremacy is now firmly in the hands of the Soviet army.
Li nodded quickly and said: "Comrade Commander, I agree with your proposal. I suggest reporting this matter to General Konev. After he understands the actual situation, he will definitely agree to send planes for reconnaissance without hesitation."
"Okay, I'll make the call." Sokov felt that if he really wanted to rescue the two to thirty thousand prisoners of war, without the help of the front army headquarters, it would be an impossible task. Don't look at the command he is currently commanding.
As a group army, it was still somewhat incapable of going deep into the heavily defended areas of the German army to rescue a group of prisoners of war.
While waiting for the call to be connected, Sokov saw that Kharitoev looked extremely tired, so he ordered Ponedelin: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I see that Lieutenant Kharitoev looks very tired. You can take him first."
Rest. If anything happens, I will send someone to call you."
After Ponedelin left the headquarters with Kharitoyev, Smirnov asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, there are only more than 1,500 people who can replenish the troops. Which division do you plan to integrate them into?"
"
Just when Sokov was dumbfounded and didn't know how to answer, the director of the Communications Corps reported to him: "Comrade Commander, the phone call from the Front Army Headquarters has been connected."
Sokov recognized that the person who answered the phone was Zakharov, and asked politely: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, can you hand the phone to Comrade General? I have important things to report to him."
"I'm Konev." Konev's voice soon came from the receiver: "Comrade Sokov, what do you want from me?"
"Hello, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Sokov straightened his back and said respectfully: "Not long ago, we completed the exchange ceremony with the German army and exchanged 3,214 commanders and combatants. However, most of them have...
There are only more than 1,500 people who are injured or disabled and can be incorporated into the army to fight."
"There are only more than 1,500 people?" Konev felt a little disappointed when he heard this number: "It seems that our captured commanders and fighters have been tortured by the enemy in the prisoner of war camp. You must arrange
Medical staff are treating them to ensure that everyone can recover as soon as possible."
"Understood, Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I will follow your order." Sokov paused for a moment, and then turned to the topic: "I am calling you because I have an important matter and I need your help.
"
"Can you ask me for help?" Sokov's words made Konev alert. He knew very well that the 53rd Army accepted by Sokov was a mess. The troops were not fully staffed. The number of new recruits in the entire army accounted for half of the total strength.
, and the weapons and equipment are also very backward, not even as good as the Moscow militia division. So when I heard Sokov asked him for help, I instinctively thought that the other party would ask me for soldiers and weapons, so I took precautions in advance: "
Comrade Sokov, the situation here is not very good. I need soldiers but no soldiers, and I need weapons but no weapons. I may not be able to help you much."
Sokov couldn't help but smile bitterly when he heard what Konev said. After the other party finished speaking, he quickly said: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, you misunderstood. I didn't call you to ask for soldiers and weapons, but for something else."
matter."
"Oh, it's for something else." When Konev heard that it wasn't weapons and soldiers, he felt much more at ease: "Tell me, what do you need?"
"It's like this. Among the commanders and fighters we rescued, there was one... an old subordinate of Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin." Sokov originally wanted to tell Konev the identity of Kharitoev, but the words came to his lips.
, he swallowed it back, because he knew very well that the rescue of a colonel who had been captured for many years must go through a long review. If he could come back after a while, it would be a good thing; but if he couldn't come back,
Didn't he miss a commander with rich combat experience? "He told me that there may be 20,000 to 30,000 prisoners of war of our army held in an open-pit mine in the Uman area."
"Twenty to thirty thousand prisoners of war of our army?" Konev was shocked when he heard the news: "Comrade Sokov, is the news reliable? Where is the open-pit mine?"
"The soldier who told me the news also heard from a newly admitted prisoner of war. The prisoner of war who told him about this was shot dead by the Germans not long after, and he did not have time to learn more about the situation." Sokov said.
He expressed his thoughts to Konev: "In order to find out where the open-pit mine is, I would like to request the Air Force to send a reconnaissance plane to search near Uman to see if the place can be found."
"Well, no problem." When Konev heard that he was just sending a reconnaissance plane to search for the mine, he naturally agreed: "I will call General Goryunov immediately and ask him to send a reconnaissance plane to the Uman area to search."
Smirnov waited for Sokov to put down the phone and asked: "Comrade Commander, if the Air Force detects the location of the open-pit mine, what are your plans?"
Sokov was silent for a moment and replied: "Even if we know the specific location of the mine and send people to rescue, obviously we will not show it. It is simply impossible to bring out 20,000 to 30,000 people without being discovered by the Germans.
It's impossible. The only way is to stay put for the time being. When the main force of our army launches an attack on the Uman area, we will send another force to seize the open-pit mine and rescue the commanders and soldiers imprisoned inside."
Smirnov also agreed with Sokov's statement. He even began to think about how to resettle the prisoners of war after rescuing them: "Comrade Commander, even if there are 20,000 to 30,000 people, only 10,000 people can do it.
Enriching them into the army will be very helpful to improve our combat effectiveness."
"That's right." Sokov nodded and said, "You know, these ten thousand people are veterans. Their joining will greatly enhance our combat power. And they have been under the influence of the Germans in recent years.
In the prisoner-of-war camp, they suffered inhuman torture. Once they have the opportunity to seek revenge, they will unleash unprecedented superhuman fighting power."
"By the way," Smirnov suddenly remembered something and asked Sokov: "Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin has returned from the Front Artillery Headquarters. Lieutenant Colonel Namuzichenko and Kirillov
Colonel, when will you return to the headquarters?"
Sokov was stunned and then asked: "One of them is in the infantry division and the other is in the cavalry division. Aren't they both doing a good job? Why do you want them to come back?"
"Comrade Commander," just when Smirnov was about to stop speaking, Gorokhov interrupted again: "These two commanders, like Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin, are of special concern to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
People, if you use them so highly, I'm afraid it will cause you unnecessary trouble."
After Sokov figured out what was going on, he waved his hands and said, "It doesn't matter. I think the two of them are quite qualified for their current positions, so let them continue to do it. If my superiors want to hold them accountable in the future, I will be responsible for it alone."
"
Sokov's words had reached this point, so Smirnov and Gorokhov naturally couldn't say anything else. "Comrade Commander," Smirnov started a new topic: "Our army group passed by here.
This battle cost a lot of casualties. If we want to replenish troops, we can only recruit them from Ukraine. When the number of new recruits in the army increases, the combat effectiveness will definitely be affected. Can you tell me, what are the ways to solve this problem?"
"This is a difficult problem." Sokov was also in a dilemma: "If the superiors can give us two or three months of training time after replenishing the troops, the combat effectiveness of some troops can be improved to some extent. But we are afraid that we want to rest, but
The Germans did not give us a chance. Although they suffered successive defeats, they still had the ability to attack us."
"I have an idea." Smirnov said: "Although many of the commanders and fighters we rescued today cannot be incorporated into the army due to physical reasons, I think they can be used to train new recruits and teach them what they know.
The content is taught to recruits who know nothing."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, this is a good idea." Sokov said in surprise: "Although they are physically unable to participate in the battle, they can still serve as instructors and teach the new recruits the experience they have mastered. Call the divisions another day
When the division commander holds a meeting, he will allocate a group of manpower to each of them to assist in the training of their new recruits."
At noon, when Sokov and others were having lunch, the phone on the table rang.
Sokov was closer to the phone, stuffed the bread in his mouth, picked up the phone and put it to his ear, asking vaguely: "I am Sokov, where are you?"
"Comrade Sokov, this is Zakharov." Zakharov's deep voice came from the receiver: "I have bad news to tell you."
Sokov's whole body was shaken, and his heart beat faster than expected. He quickly picked up the tea cup in front of him and took a sip. After swallowing the bread in his mouth, he asked nervously: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, can you tell me what's going on?"
What happened?"
"I regret to tell you that our air force's reconnaissance of the Uman area failed."
"The reconnaissance of the Uman area failed?" Sokov asked puzzledly: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, can you tell me how it failed?"