Chapter 1590

When Sokov and Lunev returned to the headquarters, Sameko greeted them. After he glanced behind the two, he asked with some surprise: "Comrade commander, you and the military commissar are back. What about General Nagarov and the others?"

   "They still have things to deal with, and they may have to come back later." Sokov asked casually, "Did anything happen while I was away?"

   "The enemy launched an attack on our army's right bank landing field, which has been repelled by our army." After answering the question, Sameko asked curiously: "Comrade commander, what did you see in the 116th Division's defense zone?"

  Sokov turned his head and said to Lunev: "Comrade Military Commissar, I really don't trust others to be responsible for the screening. You should go and see the situation."

   Lunev understood how much Sokov attached importance to the pilot Oleg Rezanov. Hearing what he said, he nodded hastily: "Okay, Comrade Commander, I'll go over now to get some information."

After Lunev left, Sokov went to the table and sat down, picked up a teacup and put some tea from the samovar, took a sip, and said to Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you may not even dream , the heavy bomber that made an emergency landing in the 116th division defense area was actually flown by a captured pilot of our army..."

   "The captured pilot flew back?" Sameko asked in surprise: "Since he was captured by the Germans, how could he fly back with a heavy bomber? Wouldn't it be a lie?"

When Sokov heard about it for the first time, he also thought it was a fantasy, but after listening to Oleg Rezanov's detailed account, he thought of the real incident of Mikhail Devitaev , and finally chose to believe in Oleg Rezanov.

After hearing Sokov's complete story, Sameko couldn't help frowning, and said to Sokov thoughtfully: "Comrade Commander, I think this is a bit strange. In the hangar of the German army, Why did there happen to be an idle heavy bomber, and there was a lot of fuel piled up nearby? Also, after their plane took off, the German army dispatched fighter jets to pursue it, why didn't they shoot them down and return?"

Faced with a series of questions raised by Sameko, Sokov just smiled lightly, and then said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you are absolutely right to have such questions. But after careful cross-examination and observation of the six people, I feel that What they say should be true. Once their screening interview is over, arrange for medical staff to treat their injuries and put them in suitable employment."

  As Sokov's chief of staff, Sameko faithfully performed his duties: "Comrade Commander, I think this matter should be cautious. It is best to report this matter, and the higher authorities will make the final conclusion."

  Sokov understood that Sameko said this for his own consideration. It’s fine for Rezanov and the others to be fine. If they are really spies who were instigated by the Germans, if they are found out in the future, it will have a fatal impact on their own future.

In fact, even if Sameko didn’t remind him, Sokov planned to report the matter to Konev. Although only a few captured commanders escaped from the German prisoner-of-war camp, the way they escaped was unimaginable. If you didn't see it with your own eyes, just hearing it from others, you would think it was a fairy tale.

   "You are right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov nodded: "I am planning to report this matter to the Front Army Command."

  The phone was connected quickly, and Konev's voice came from the receiver: "Comrade Sokov, do you have any good news for me?"

   "Comrade Front Army Commander, a special incident has occurred, and I think it is necessary to report to you."

   "A special event?!" Konev restrained the smile on his face and said seriously, "Let's hear it."

"A few hours ago, a German heavy bomber made an emergency landing in the defense area of ​​the 116th Division of the 53rd Army." Sokov specially emphasized the designation of the 53rd Army when reporting on his work, so that Konev could know it well. : "When our commanders and fighters rushed over after hearing the news, they unexpectedly discovered that it was not the Germans who came out of the bomber, but six prisoners of war in prison uniforms."

   "Prisoner? Our prisoner?"

"Yes, the commanders and fighters of our army captured by the enemy." Sokov explained: "The pilot who flew the plane was a fighter pilot of our army. The plane he was driving was shot down in the Kuban air battle, and he himself He was wounded and captured after parachuting. In the German POW camp, he contacted several prisoners who wanted to escape, grabbed a German bomber parked in the hangar, and flew the plane directly back to our defense area..."

   After listening to Sokov's report, Konev began to meditate without saying a word.

  Sokov noticed that there was no sound in the earpiece. Konev himself was thinking about the problem and didn't disturb the other party, but waited patiently for the other party's reply.

After an unknown period of time, Konev finally spoke: "Comrade Sokov, if I didn't know you well and know that you are a person who never tells lies, otherwise I would definitely think that what you just reported was all nonsense. Eight ways."

Konev questioned this matter, which was already expected by Sokov. He waited for the other party to finish speaking, and quickly explained: "Reporting to Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I saw with my own eyes six soldiers who escaped from the German prisoner-of-war camp. Comrades who came out, and have had conversations with them, and believe that what they say is completely true.”

After saying this, Sokov worried that Konev would still not believe what he said, and added: "The world is full of wonders, and we can't just conclude that something is beyond our knowledge because we haven't seen it. Such things cannot happen. Do you mean that, Comrade Front Commander?"

  After thinking about Sokov's words, Konev felt that what the other party said made sense, so he nodded and said, "Comrade Sokov, what you said makes sense. How did you deal with these prisoners of war?"

"I arranged for General Lunev to personally screen them." Sokov replied: "Once there is no problem in the review, the treatment should be treated, and the work should be arranged. As for the pilot Oleg Ray Zhanov, I am going to ask General Lunev to send him to the Air Force Army and give him to General Goryunov."

  Sokov's arrangement for the pilot made Konev very curious: "Comrade Sokov, why did you hand over the pilot to General Goryunov?"

"Comrade Commander of the Front Army, this is how I think about it. In any case, he is flying a bomber from the German field airfield. If he can serve as a guide for our air force to bomb the German army's field airfield, it will weaken the German army. air power?"

   "This idea is not bad." Konev said: "But the premise is that the other party is completely reliable. If he is really a spy who was instigated by the Germans, the fighter planes that attack with him are in danger of being destroyed."

"I think Comrade Rezanov should have no problem in terms of loyalty." Sokov felt that he should say a few good words for Rezanov at this time. If he escaped from the prisoner-of-war camp, if he could not give the other party enough trust, he might feel chilled: "There is such a chance to avenge the Germans, I don't think he will give up easily."

"Okay, Comrade Sokov." Konev did not continue to entangle in this matter out of trust in Sokov, "As soon as the screening review is over, send someone to send them to the Air Force Group Army. I think General Goryunov would be interested in him."

  When Konev put down the phone, Zakharov, who had just walked in from the outside, asked with great interest, "Comrade Commander, who is calling you?"

  Konev picked up the cigarette case on the table, smoked a cigarette from it, and replied casually, "It's Sokov calling."

   "Oh, he called, what's the matter?"

Hearing Zakharov's question, Konev stuffed the cigarette back into the cigarette case, and said seriously: "Sokov told me on the phone that not long ago, a German heavy bomber was flying in the 116th division. When our soldiers rushed over, they unexpectedly found that there were not Germans in the cabin, but six prisoners of war of our army in prison uniforms."

   "Prisoners of war?!" Zakharov showed a shocked expression on his face: "Why are there prisoners of war from our army in the German bombers?"

"It is said that a pilot named Oleg Rezanov, together with several prisoners who wanted to escape from the prison camp, stole the bomber from the German hangar and flew back to our defense area .”

"How is this possible?" Zakharov exclaimed: "It is not easy to escape from the German prisoner-of-war camp. He also stole a German bomber and flew it back to the No matter how you look at it, this matter looks like a fantasy. Comrade Commander, I think these prisoners of war are very suspicious. They are not spies who were instigated by the Germans and tried to infiltrate our army and sabotage them. I recommend that they be reviewed immediately and, if necessary, executed on the spot."

Konev glanced at Zakharov and continued: "I thought about it that way at first, but Sokov convinced me that he assured me that there was nothing wrong with the six escaped prisoners of war and that he planned to finish the confrontation at the end. After the review by several people, the pilot was sent to Goliunov and asked him to guide our air force to bomb the German airport."

   Hearing what Konev said, Zakharov was silent for a few seconds, and then said: "Since Comrade Sokov said that they have no problems, there should be no problems. I think his vision of people is quite accurate."

   After saying this, he paused for a moment, and then continued: "However, this matter is of great importance. I suggest reporting to Marshal Zhukov or the Supreme Command immediately, so that no one will make a fuss about this matter in the future."

  (end of this chapter)