Red Moscow

  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 current primary task was to build fortifications in the defense zone.

After Ponegerin followed Sokov to inspect the defense area and returned, he would not start to complain: "Damn it, the friendly army has been here for nearly a month, but there is no decent fortification. Fortunately, the main force of the German army was captured. The troops of the First Front Army are restrained and are unable to launch attacks in other areas. Otherwise, they only need to launch an attack on our area, and they must be able to drive our troops stationed here far away."

"Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander, you're right." Sukov agreed with Ponegerin's complaints: "I really didn't expect that after the friendly forces occupied this place, they didn't even think about it." Repair work, do they really think the Germans are vulnerable?"

"If you want to build fortifications in the defense zone, this is a big project." Ponegelin said with emotion: "In the next two or three months, our commanders and fighters may have to do fortifications every day. Stop repairing work."

  Sokov was thinking in his heart that the Battle of East Prussia was launched in January 1945, and his troops would still be stationed here for a few months. If there were no fortifications at all, it would be difficult to stop them if they encountered a German attack.

  Thinking of this, he said to Ponegerin and Sidolin: "Deputy Commander, Comrade Chief of Staff, anyway, fortifications must be built, otherwise, when the Germans come, how can we stop them?"

"But after a long period of fighting in our troops, the commanders and fighters have become exhausted." Sidolin reminded Sokov: "If under such circumstances, large-scale fortifications are still built, I am afraid that the commanders and fighters will be exhausted." The body can't take it."

   "This is easy." Sokov felt that although his defense zone might be attacked by the German army, the German army did not dare to take the initiative to attack in a short period of time. So I am going to take advantage of this rare opportunity to let the commanders and fighters take turns to build fortifications and rest in batches: "I think about it this way, divide the troops into three parts, and carry out the fortification work in batches. Those who did not have their turn Commanders and fighters, you can use this time to take a good rest. You see, how about my plan?"

  Pornegelin and Sidolin looked at each other, then nodded slowly: "We agree."

   "Okay, since everyone has no opinion, let's inform and follow this plan."

   "Comrade Commander, I have a proposal." Unexpectedly, here, Sidolin added: "Can we recruit local residents to participate in the construction of fortifications?"

Regarding Sidolin’s suggestion, while Sokov was still considering it, Ponejielin had already said first: “I don’t think it’s appropriate. You know, if we recruit local residents to participate in the construction of the fortifications, we don’t even know whether there are hidden German spies. If there are any, before our fortifications are repaired, the deployment plans may be on the table of the German commander."

  When Sidolin proposed to allow local residents to participate in the construction of the fortifications, Sokov almost agreed. But after hearing what Ponegerin said, he couldn't help becoming hesitant again. Yes, if it is really necessary to recruit local residents to participate in the construction of the fortifications, then there must be a lot of people recruited, and if two or three Germans are hidden Spy, really can't find it.

   But Sokov thought about it again, even if German spies sneaked into the residents of the fortification, it didn't matter much, as long as they were not allowed to touch the important defense area.

  Thinking of this, he said, "I think what the chief of staff said makes sense, so let's recruit local residents and help us build fortifications."

   "What if a German spy sneaks in?" Pornegerin felt the need to remind Sokov, so he specifically emphasized: "In this way, the Germans can figure out the defense situation."

"Comrade Deputy Commander, I don't deny that there may be German spies mixed in among the residents who participated in the construction of the fortifications." Sokov said to Ponejielin: "But we can't refuse because of this." The help of the Poles. I think that as long as we are not allowed to touch our important defensive areas, it will not matter if the Germans know some of our defenses."

"Okay then, Comrade Commander." Ponegelin also felt that just having commanders and fighters to build fortifications would not only take a long time, but also easily exhaust the commanders and fighters. Combat is very disadvantageous. Now that Sokov has considered all the issues that should be considered, it shouldn't be a bad thing to recruit a group of local people to build the fortifications. So he pushed the boat along and said, "Just follow 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. The local residents didn't even sign up, which surprised Sokov and others.

Seeing that no one came to sign up, Ponejielin couldn't help but start to analyze the reason with Sokov: "Comrade Commander, tell me why the local residents still refuse to come to sign up when the conditions we offer are so superior. ?”

  Sokov thought for a while, and tentatively said: "Could it be that the Poles in these areas are not friendly to us? Otherwise, how could it be possible that no one came to sign up after the notice was posted?"

"There is such a possibility." Ponejerin agreed with Sokov's statement: "Not to mention, even if the Warsaw Uprising broke out some time ago, the head of the Krajov 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 outbreak of the uprising. 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 Ponejielin: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I plan to entrust local people to participate in the construction of the fortifications. I plan to entrust you with responsibility. Do you have any objections?"

   "I have no objection." Ponegerin shook his head and said, "I don't have anything to do recently anyway, so I'll go to various villages and use the local residents by the way."

"Comrade Deputy Commander," Sokov suddenly remembered Vatutin's lesson, and quickly reminded Ponejielin: "When you go to the village, bring more people with you. After all, this is a place we just occupied, and the local We still don't know what people are doing to us."

   "It doesn't matter, Comrade Commander." Pornejelin said with a smile: "I usually take two soldiers. If I bring too many people, I'm worried that the local residents will be frightened."

   "No, this is absolutely not possible." Seeing Ponejielin's disapproving expression, Sokov reminded him with a straight face, "Don't forget how General Vatutin was injured."

  Sokov's words reminded Ponejielin, because they had talked about Vatutin's injury on different occasions. Ponejielin also said that if Vatutin had brought more guards with him at that time, the possible injury could have been avoided. If he hadn't been injured, he wouldn't have died due to wound infection, and he would not be General Vatutin, but Marshal Vatutin until now.

   "Thank you for your reminder, Comrade Commander." Pornegerin nodded and said, "I will pay attention."

  At this time, the phone on the table rang, and it was a call from Major General Kirillov, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division.

  Hearing Sokov's voice, Kirillov immediately reported: "Comrade Commander, several Ukrainians who fled to Poland want to see you."

   "Ukrainians who fled to Poland?" Sokov asked a little puzzled, "What did they see me for?"

   "They didn't say anything." Kirillov said, "They said that they would explain their intentions after seeing you in person."

   "Okay, bring them over."

  After putting down the phone, Sokov called Koshkin in and told him, "Comrade Captain, General Kirillov will send some civilians over later. Before you let them in, remember to search them."

   Koshkin asked curiously: "Who is it that can come to see you directly?"

   "Not sure." Sokov shook his head and said, "It is said that they are some Ukrainians who fled to Poland."

   Soon, Kirillov sent someone to send the Ukrainians over. Sokov saw that it looked like a family, an old man with a gray beard, and two young boys.

Seeing Koshkin standing at the door, Sokov nodded to himself, indicating that he had already searched the three of them, so he walked up to the old man and asked politely, "Master, I am Soko, the commander of the army group." Admiral Husband, do you know what you want from me?"

   "Hello, Comrade General!" The old man introduced himself to Sokov: "My name is Vojicic Smazoski, I am a Ukrainian, and I fled to Poland early last year."

  When Sidolin heard this, he couldn't help interjecting and asked: "Grandpa, if you are talking about fleeing, shouldn't you run east from Ukraine to the hinterland of Russia? Why did you run to Poland?"

"Hey!" Vojsic Smazoski sighed and continued: "Our family used to live in the Warren area for generations, but since the end of last year, a group of thugs have carried out massacres in the Warren area. As long as you are Polish, whether you have always lived in Warren or moved to it later, you will all be killed. In order to avoid disaster, we fled from Warren to Poland to join our relatives here."

  After finding out the identity of the other party, Sokov asked back: "Master, 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 want to go back even in my dreams." Vojicic Smazoski wiped tears from his face and asked tentatively, "Comrade General, can you let us go back?" ?”

   "Of course, of course you can go back." Sokov said: "Now we have driven the Germans out of our land, you can return to your hometown and live in peace of mind."

   "But let's go back like this, so we won't be massacred by those thugs again?"

"No, old man." Sokov comforted Vojsich Smazoski and said, "Those thugs have already been wiped out by us. You can go back boldly and live your life with peace of mind. I wish you Guaranteed, no one will disturb your peaceful life again."

After Vojsic Smazorski thanked him a thousand times, Sokov asked curiously: "Master, we have recently recruited people from various villages to help us build fortifications. How come one of them signed up now?" No one here? Do you know what happened?"

Hearing Sokov's question, Vojisich Smazoski hesitated for a moment, and then murmured: "Some time ago someone came to the village to say hello, no one is allowed to help you, otherwise you will be given You caused the end of destroying the door yourself. Tell me, in this situation, who would dare to help you?"

  Sokov finally understood why after his notice was posted, there was no response. He felt that someone had threatened the local residents before, so that everyone was afraid to participate in the construction of the fortification.

"Master," Bornejelin also understood at this time what happened when no one signed up, and he decided to open a gap from Vojicic Smazoski's family: "I don't know if the three of you, father and son, are willing Come help us build the fortifications?"

   Seeing that the other party was silent for a long time, he added another sentence: "Don't worry, we will not only take care of your three meals a day, but also get subsidies. How about it, don't you think about it?"

   Vojsic Smazowski hesitated for a moment, then asked cautiously: "If we really help you, won't we invite death?"

   "No, old man." Pornejelin assured Vojsic Smazoskiy: "During the construction of the fortifications, you can live in our camp, and there will be absolutely no problem with your safety."

   "What about after the fortifications are completed?" Vojsic Smazoski asked cautiously, "Can you also protect my safety?"

   "You don't have to worry about this." Ponegelin continued: "By the day the fortifications are completed, we have completely controlled this area, and I believe no one will make things difficult for you."

"Okay, Comrade General." After a fierce ideological struggle, Vojsic Smazowski finally made a final decision: "I'll just say this to you, and I'll help you." He looked Glancing at the two sons standing beside him, he added, "There are also my two sons who will also work for you."

  In fact, the local residents, seeing the generous treatment in the notice, wanted to help the Soviet army build fortifications. But Naihe was once threatened by others, and for the safety of themselves and their families, they could only choose to endure. When they saw that Wojisic, Smazoski and his son were helping to build the fortifications, and they were paid enough every day, they couldn't help but feel a little moved.

In the beginning, only three or five residents sneaked out to help with the work, but as time went on, more and more residents came to help, so that Ponegerin had to divide them into several groups, each responsible for a certain area. construction work.

  The defense zone of Batov's 65th Army is next to Sokov's defense zone. He was a little surprised to see local residents helping to build fortifications in Sokov's defense area, but he couldn't find any on his side. He called Sokov himself to find out what happened. thing.

"General Sokov," Batov asked with a smile, "I want to ask, why are there so many local residents helping in your defense zone, but we can't even recruit one? What's going on? What's up?"