Chapter 207 Reunion

When Sokov was urgently recalled from Nizhny Novgorod, he realized that there must be something wrong with his troops, but he did not expect that the problem was beyond his imagination: a reinforced battalion of more than 800 people, after After a battle, there were only more than two hundred people left. He was very worried about what his troops could do in the next series of battles with such strength.

Belgin saw what was on Sokov's mind, and explained to him specifically: "Comrade battalion commander, the two infantry divisions participating in the offensive battle have been disabled after a long period of fighting. The strength of each division is no more than Two thousand men, half of them still non-combatants. So in this battle, it is not so much that our battalion is fighting with two infantry divisions, but it is more appropriate that they cooperate with our battalion."

Belkin’s explanation made Sokov understand in his heart that when the troops were encircled by the Germans, the reason why the superiors let their troops break through the enemy’s encirclement was also because the two divisions had lost too many personnel and had basically Due to the loss of assault ability.

  Belkin also told Sokov one more thing. Long before the offensive began, the Istria Battalion was no longer under the command of the 11th Guards Infantry Division, but became a direct unit of the Army Group Command. This order was personally issued by Rokossovsky, who was still recuperating in the Moscow Military Hospital.

Knowing that the troops had become the troops directly under the army group, Sokov felt more at ease. In this way, Timoshenko could not casually organize his troops into the army before obtaining Rokossovsky's permission. The Southwest Front Army itself avoided the fate of becoming cannon fodder.

  The current battalion command has a telephone line that is directly connected to the headquarters of the group army, so Sokov has something to report, so he doesn't have to send a telegram or yell into the microphone at the top of his voice. Immediately after his conversation with Belkin was over, he picked up the receiver and called Malinin.

  After hearing Sokov's voice from the receiver, Ma Linin immediately asked with a smile, "Major Sokov, have you returned to the army?"

  Although Sokov knew in his heart, Ma Linin had already learned about his itinerary through the second lieutenant who sent him. But when he heard Ma Linin ask this question, he still replied truthfully: "Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff, I have returned to my command post."

   "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff, I have something urgent and I need your help." Sokov stared at the thick stack of award application forms in front of him, and said into the microphone: "I have a batch of award application forms here. It is to honor those fighters who have distinguished themselves in the battles of the previous few days."

Ma Linin originally thought that after Sokov returned to the Istria camp, he would complain to himself when he saw the heavy losses of his troops, but he said something to him in a flat tone. He asked puzzledly: "Major Sokov, you should contact the Political Department of the Group Army for the award application form. They have always been in charge of this kind of matter."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, my deputy battalion commander reported to me that this batch of application forms for awards had been handed over to the Political Department of the Army Group." Sokov said with a wry smile: "But it is regrettable that these application forms were all rejected by the Political Department. People retreated."

   "What, was it sent back?" Ma Lining asked in surprise when he heard this, "Do you know why?"

Although Sokov knew that if he told the truth, he might offend the people in the Political Department of the Army Group, but he didn't want the soldiers under him who were born and died, not to get the recognition they deserved after paying the price of blood and life. He said solemnly: "According to the comrades in the Political Department, this was a failed battle and did not complete the tasks assigned by the superiors. Therefore, the soldiers who made meritorious deeds and sacrificed in the battle will not be commended."

"Bastard, who said that?" Malinin slammed the table angrily when he heard this, and said angrily, "If it weren't for the bravery and tenacity shown by the commanders and fighters of the Istria battalion, we would have been surrounded by the German army." It is estimated that the two divisions have been dismantled. We cannot turn a blind eye to the performance of the soldiers just because we have lost a battle."

   Hearing what Ma Lining said, Sokov felt a lot more at ease. He said that his analysis seemed to be correct, and Ma Lining would definitely seek justice for his subordinates. Sure enough, after a while, Sokov heard Malinin continue to say: "...You immediately send someone to send the award application form to the army headquarters. I will personally talk to Comrade Lobachev, the military commissar. The awards and awards that belong to the soldiers Xun, absolutely one of them is indispensable."

  After finishing the conversation with Ma Linin, Sokov considered that the matter was no small matter. If he sent a messenger to deliver these award application forms, there might be some unexpected changes. He had just returned to the battalion, and he still needed to be familiar with the situation in the battalion, so he would definitely not be able to leave in a short period of time. Therefore, the most suitable candidate was Berkin, the political deputy battalion commander.

After considering the candidates, Sokov said to Belkin: "Comrade Deputy Battalion Commander, I will leave the award application form to you. Now take two soldiers and rush to the army headquarters as soon as possible. These award application forms are handed over to Chief of Staff Ma Linin. You will bring them back after you receive the award order and medal from your superiors."

  After Belkin left, Sokov felt that he should go to the health team to see. In addition to the forty or fifty wounded who were recuperating, there was also Asia who hadn't seen her for nearly a month.

  As soon as Sokov walked into the tent where the wounded were recuperating, he was discovered by the military doctor Pavlov who was taking care of the wounded. He quickly stood up straight and raised his hand to salute Sokov. After returning the salute, Sokov asked Pavlov in a low voice: "Comrade military doctor, how many wounded are there in this tent?"

Pavlov turned his head and glanced at the sleeping wounded lying on the stretcher, and replied in the same low voice: "Comrade battalion commander, there are twelve wounded in this tent, and half of them died after a month of recuperation. Can recover. There are two other seriously wounded, even if they recover from their injuries, it is estimated that they will not be able to stay in the army."

"Since there are seriously wounded in the health team, why not send them to the rear?" Sokov frowned when he heard that among the wounded in the health team, there were still seriously wounded. He looked at Pavlov He asked with a serious expression: "Don't you know that the medical conditions on the front line are too poor, which is not conducive to the recovery of these seriously injured?"

"Comrade battalion commander, I have no choice." Pavlov said with a bitter face: "There are too many wounded and there are not so many ambulances to pick them up, so they are temporarily left here. But please rest assured, at the latest In a week, they will also be sent to the rear hospital."

Hearing that it will take another week for the seriously wounded in the medical team to be evacuated, Sokov frowned even tighter: "Comrade military doctor, the environment here is so bad, the seriously wounded can stay for another week, don't you?" What's the problem?"

"Comrade battalion commander, don't worry." Seeing Sokov's worried expression, Pavlov quickly comforted him and said, "Don't think that our medical conditions are not as good as those of the rear hospitals, but all the staff in the health team This medicine is quite complete and can meet the medication needs of the wounded.”

Pavlov's words reminded Sokov that he had seized so many medicines, and some of them might be more complete than the hospitals in the rear. As long as the medicines for the wounded can be guaranteed, their chances of recovery are no worse than those in the hospitals in the rear. . Thinking of this, he then asked: "Comrade military doctor, how many tents are there still with wounded people?"

"There are still five tents where the wounded live." Pavlov may have guessed that Sokov asked this, but he did not want to drink. After introducing the situation of the wounded, he leaned closer to Sokov's ear. Bian whispered: "Comrade Battalion Commander, Asiya and Maria are in the northernmost tent. If you need anything, you can go find them there."

   Seeing that Pavlov had guessed his thoughts, Sokov couldn't help but blush. However, he still said in an official tone: "Comrade military doctor, I just returned to the camp today. I heard that there are many wounded here. I am going to visit them."

  The next few tents that Sokov went to, many wounded did not sleep. Seeing Sokov walking in from the outside, the wounded couldn't help being overjoyed. Those with minor injuries immediately stood up and saluted to Sokov; those who could not move sat on stretchers and saluted. Looking at these wounded subordinates, Sokov couldn't help feeling his nose sour, but he still tried his best to control his emotions, went forward to shake hands with the wounded one by one, and chatted with familiar wounded ones.

   After visiting the wounded, Sokov stood in the open space between the tents for a while before turning around and walking towards the tent where Asya lived. When he came to the door of the tent, he was a little hesitant. After being separated from Asiya for so long, although he missed her very much, he was a little timid at the moment, not knowing what to say when they met.

Assia in the tent had actually seen Sokov visiting the wounded for a long time, but she really couldn't do it if she was asked to express her heartfelt feelings to Sokov in front of the wounded, so she hid in the In his own tent, he quietly waited for Sokov's arrival.

  She heard the sound of hurried footsteps coming from far and near outside, and she recognized Sokov's footsteps, and her heartbeat suddenly accelerated. But the footsteps disappeared when they reached the tent door. Assia listened to the movement outside, and found that there was no sound at all. She thought to herself that Sokov would not leave, right?

  Asiya thought that Sokov had already left, so she rushed to the tent door, opened the curtain, and was going to go outside to see what was going on. But as soon as the curtain was lifted, she was surprised to find that Sokov did not leave, but stood at the door of the tent in a daze.

   Sokov, who was in a daze, saw the curtain being lifted suddenly. He was taken aback for a moment, and then he saw Assia whom he had been thinking about day and night, and he couldn't help showing a knowing smile on his face. After meeting Asiya's eyes for a while, he finally said, "Asiya, long time no see, how are you?"

  Asiya, who was holding the curtain in her hand, blushed with shame when she heard Sokov's question, and replied in a panic, "I, I'm fine! You, when did you come back?"

"I came back today." Sukov didn't know that Asiya knew he was back, and he explained solemnly: "I wanted to come to see you immediately, but I went to the battalion command post first and called the company and platoon below. The chief held a meeting and went to visit the wounded, so he came late."

   "It's cold outside, be careful of catching a cold." Assia turned her body aside and said softly to Sokov with concern: "You should come in first."

  Sokov walked into the tent and saw that there were two bunks on the ground, which should be where Asya and Maria slept. Assia placed a half-foot-long tree stump next to the floor in front of Sokov, and said to him, "Misha, sit down!"

  After Sokov sat down, Assia asked curiously: "Misha, you went to Moscow this time and stayed for almost a month. What have you been up to?"

Hearing Asya's question, Sokov hesitated for a moment. He thought that no matter what he did in Moscow or Nizhny Novgorod, it should be classified as confidential at present, and he could not disclose it to anyone, including standing in front of him. The female health worker with a close relationship could only answer vaguely: "I accepted a secret mission, so I stayed for a long time. If the chief of staff of the group army hadn't sent someone to pick me up, I guess I would still stay here." Stay in Moscow for a while."

"Just come back." Assia moved another small stump, sat down beside Sokov, grabbed his arm, rested her head on his arm, pouted and said, "I thought you Once you leave, you will never come back.”

"Don't worry, Assia." Feeling Assia's longing for him, Sokov raised his hand and patted her on the shoulder, comforting her and said, "Even if I want to leave the Istria camp completely, I will take you away with me!"

  Asiya heard Sokov say this, she sat up straight suddenly, looked up at Sokov, and asked excitedly: "Misha, is what you said true?"

   "Yes, yes." Sokov nodded vigorously, and replied affirmatively, "I don't think there should be any problem with bringing a few people with me when I go to the new army."

   "Great, this is really great." Assia put her face on Sokov's arm again, and said excitedly, "This way, we won't be separated."

Although thinking of the Battle of Kharkov that will start soon and the Battle of Stalingrad known as the Meat Grinder, Sokov's heart trembles, but he feels that if he wants to save Assia's life, It is safest to keep her by your side all the time. Thinking of this, he said to Asiya: "Asiya, I assure you, as long as you are by my side, I will protect your life."

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Assia laughed dumbfoundedly, and then said: "Misha, look at what you said, I was also a person who went to the battlefield, and I also rescued many wounded in the enemy's hail of bullets. I have protection You don’t have to worry about me about your own ability, you just need to concentrate on commanding and fighting.”

  (end of this chapter)