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 passed through 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.
Belkin saw what Sokov was thinking and specifically explained to him: "Comrade Battalion Commander, the two infantry divisions that participated in the offensive battle have been disabled after a long period of combat, and the strength of each division is no more than Two thousand people, half of whom are non-combatants. Therefore, in this battle, it is not so much that our battalion is cooperating with the two infantry divisions, but it is more appropriate to say that they are cooperating with our battalion."
Belkin's explanation made Sokov understand that after the troops were encircled by the Germans, the reason why his superiors assigned his troops to break through the enemy's encirclement was because the two divisions had lost too much and were basically exhausted. Due to the loss of assault capability.
Belkin also told Sokov that long before the offensive began, the Istria Battalion was no longer under the command of the 11th Guards Rifle Division, but became a unit directly under the Army Headquarters. This order was personally issued by Rokossovsky, who was still recovering from his injuries in the Moscow Military Hospital.
After learning that the army had become a unit directly under the group army, Sokov felt much more at ease. In this way, Timoshenko could not arbitrarily integrate his troops into the army before obtaining Rokossovsky's permission. The Southwest Front Army itself avoided the fate of becoming cannon fodder.
Today's battalion command has a telephone line that goes directly to the army headquarters, so if Sokov wants to report something, he doesn't have to send a telegram or yell at the top of his lungs into the microphone. After the conversation with Belkin, he immediately picked up the phone and called Malinin.
After Malinin heard Sokov's voice coming from the receiver, he immediately asked with a smile: "Major Sokov, have you returned to the army?"
Although Sokov knew in his heart, Malinen had already known his itinerary through the second lieutenant who sent him. But when he heard Ma Linin ask this question, he still answered truthfully: "Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff, I have returned to my command post."
"Can I help you with anything?"
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff, I have something urgent to ask for 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 warriors who have distinguished themselves in the battles of the past few days.”
Malinin originally thought that Sokov would complain to him when he saw the heavy losses of his troops after returning to the Istria camp. Unexpectedly, he said something to him about the commendation application form in a calm tone, which made him a little confused. He asked in confusion: "Major Sokov, regarding the commendation application form, you should contact the Army Political Department. They have always been responsible for this kind of thing."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, my deputy battalion commander reported to me that these commendation application forms have been submitted to the Political Department of the Group Army." Sokov said with a wry smile: "But it is regrettable that these application forms have been handed over to the Political Department of the Army." People retreated.”
"What, it was sent back?" Ma Lining heard this and asked in surprise: "Do you know why?"
Although Sokov knew that if he told the truth, he might offend the people in the Army Group Political Department, but he didn't want his soldiers who were going through life and death to not get the recognition they deserve after paying the price of blood and lives. He said with a solemn expression: "According to the comrades of the Political Department, this was a failed battle and the tasks assigned by superiors were not completed. Therefore, the soldiers who made meritorious service and sacrificed their lives in the battle will not be commended."
"Asshole, who said this?" When Malinen heard this, he slammed the table angrily 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 Germans. The two divisions are estimated to have been deorganized now. We cannot turn a blind eye to the performance of the soldiers just because we have lost a battle."
When Sokov heard what Malinin said, he felt much more at ease. He thought that his analysis seemed to be correct, and Malinin would definitely seek justice for his subordinates. Sure enough, after a while, Sokov heard Malinin continue: "...You immediately send someone to send the award application form to the group army headquarters. I will personally talk to Comrade Comrade Lobachev, the military commissar, about the awards and awards that belong to the soldiers. There is absolutely no one left without honors."
After ending the call with Malinin, Sokov considered that this matter was not a trivial matter. If he sent a signal corps to deliver these award application forms, there might be some unexpected changes. I had just returned to the camp, and I still needed to get familiar with the situation in the camp. I would definitely not be able to leave in the short term. Therefore, the most suitable candidate was none other than Political Deputy Battalion Commander Belkin.
After considering the candidates, Sokov said to Belkin: "Comrade Deputy Battalion Commander, I will leave the commendation application form to you. You should immediately take two soldiers and rush to the group army headquarters as soon as possible. Give these commendation application forms to Chief of Staff Malinen. Bring them back after you receive the commendation order and medal from your superiors."
After Belkin left, Sokov felt that he should go to the health team to have a look. In addition to forty or fifty wounded people recovering there, there was also Asiya, whom he hadn't seen in nearly a month.
As soon as Sokov entered the tent where the wounded were recovering, he was discovered by 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 medic, how many wounded are there in this tent?"
Pavlov turned his head and glanced at the sleeping wounded on stretchers, and replied in the same low voice: "Comrade Battalion Commander, there are a total of twelve wounded in this tent, half of whom will be discharged after a month of recuperation." They can recover. There are two other seriously injured people. Even if they recover, they probably won't be able to stay in the army."
"Since there are seriously wounded people in the health team, why not send them to the rear?" Hearing that there were actually seriously wounded people recovering in the health team, Sokov couldn't help but frowned. 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 people?"
"Comrade Battalion Commander, I have no choice." Pavlov said with a grimace: "There are too many wounded people, and there are not so many ambulances to transport them, so they are temporarily left here. But please don't worry, at the latest Within a week, they will also be sent to the rear hospital."
Hearing that it would take another week to evacuate the seriously wounded who remained in the health team, Sokov frowned even more tightly: "Comrade military doctor, our environment here is so bad. If the seriously wounded stay for another week, we won't be able to evacuate them." Will there be any problems?"
"Comrade Battalion Commander, don't worry." Seeing Sokov's worried expression, Pavlov quickly comforted him and said, "Although our medical conditions are not as good as those in the rear hospitals, the various medical conditions in the health team are The medicines are relatively complete and can meet the medication needs of the wounded."
Pavlov's words reminded Sokov that he had seized so many medicines, some of which might be more complete than the hospitals in the rear. As long as the wounded can be given medicine, their chances of recovery will be no worse than those in the hospitals in the rear. . Thinking of this, he then asked: "Comrade military doctor, how many tents are there occupied by wounded people?"
"There are five tents with wounded people living in them." Pavlov may have guessed that Sokov asked this question. He was not interested in drinking. After introducing the situation of the wounded, Pavlov leaned into Sokov's ear again. He whispered: "Comrade Battalion Commander, Asia and Maria are in the northernmost tent. If you have anything, you can go there to find them."
Seeing that Pavlov 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, and I am planning to come over to visit them."
In the next few tents Sokov went to, many wounded people were not sleeping. When they saw Sokov walking in from the outside, the wounded couldn't help but be overjoyed. Those with minor injuries stood up immediately and saluted Sokov; those who were unable to move sat on a stretcher and saluted. Sokov's nose couldn't help but feel sore as he looked at these wounded subordinates. However, he still tried his best to control his emotions, stepped forward to shake hands with the wounded one by one, and chatted with familiar wounded men.
After visiting the wounded, Sokov stood in the open space between the tents for a while, then turned and walked towards the tent where Asya lived. When he came to the door of the tent, he was a little hesitant. He and Asiya had been separated for so long. Although he missed each other very much, he was a little timid at the moment and didn't know what to say when they met.
Asiya in the tent had actually seen Sokov who was visiting the wounded, but she was really unable to express her feelings to Sokov in front of the wounded, so she hid in He stayed in his tent and quietly waited for Sokov's arrival.
She heard hurried footsteps approaching from far away, then recognized Sokov's footsteps, and her heartbeat suddenly accelerated. But the footsteps disappeared when they reached the tent door. Asiya listened to the movement outside and found that there was no sound at all. She secretly thought that Sokov had left, right?
Asiya thought Sokov had left, so she rushed to the door of the tent, opened the curtain, and prepared to go outside to see what was going on. But as soon as the curtain was lifted, she was surprised to find that Sokov had not left, but was standing at the door of the tent in a daze.
Sokov, who was in a daze, was stunned when he saw the curtain suddenly opened. Then he saw Asiya, whom he had been thinking about all day and night, and a knowing smile appeared on his face. After he and Asiya looked at each other for a while, he finally said, "Asiya, long time no see, are you okay?"
Asya, who was holding the curtain in her hand, blushed with embarrassment 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." Sokov didn't know that Asiya had already known that he was back, and explained seriously: "I originally wanted to see you immediately, but first I went to the battalion command post and summoned the company and platoon below. The commander had a meeting and went to visit the wounded, so I came late."
"It's cold outside, be careful if you catch a cold." Asiya turned aside and said softly to Sokov with concern: "You'd better come in first."
Sokov walked into the tent and saw two bunks on the ground, which should be where Asiya and Maria slept. Asiya placed a half-foot-long tree stump next to the bunk in front of Sokov and said to him: "Misha, sit down!"
After Sokov sat down, Asiya asked curiously: "Misha, you went to Moscow this time and stayed for almost a month. What have you been busy with?"
Hearing Asya's question, Sokov hesitated for a moment. He thought that no matter what he was doing in Moscow or Nizhny Novgorod, it should be confidential for now and could not be disclosed 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 longer time. If the chief of staff of the group army hadn't sent someone to pick me up, I would probably have stayed there." Spend some time in Moscow.”
"Just come back." Asiya moved another small tree stump, sat down next to 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, Asiya." Sokov felt Asiya missing him, so he raised his hand and patted her on the shoulder, comforting her and saying, "Even if I have to leave Istria Camp completely, I will take you away with me!"
When Asiya heard what Sokov said, she sat up straight, looked up at Sokov, and asked excitedly: "Misha, is everything you said true?"
"Yes, yes." Sokov nodded vigorously and replied affirmatively: "I think there should be no problem in taking a few people with me when I go to the new army."
"Great, this is really great." Asiya put her face on Sokov's arm again and said excitedly: "This way, we can never be separated."
Although Sokov's heart trembled when he thought about the Battle of Kharkov that was about to begin soon and the defense of Stalingrad, known as the meat grinder, he felt that if he wanted to save Asya's life, The safest thing is to keep her by your side all the time. Thinking of this, he said to Asiya: "Asiya, I promise you that as long as you are by my side, I will protect your life."
Unexpectedly, Asiya burst into laughter after hearing this, and then said: "Misha, look what you said, I have also been on the battlefield, and I also rescued many wounded people in the enemy's hail of bullets. I have protection You don’t have to worry about me about your abilities, you just need to concentrate on commanding the battle.”
