Rokossovsky had only a few acquaintances with Major Podo Prigola, but the last time I saw him personally lead people to contain those defeated soldiers, he made a good impression on himself, so he spared no effort to recommend the lowest-ranking regiment commander to the position of acting commander of the 109th Division in front of Lukin.

The major learned from Lukin that he had been appointed acting division commander because of Rokossovsky's recommendation, so he called and after thanking Rokossovsky, he respectfully asked: "Comrade commander, do you think I need to set up a new headquarters with you?" ”

The Major's gratitude and deference made Rokossovsky feel a little more fond of him. He thought for a moment, then replied: "No need, Comrade Major. I thought that if the Germans were to fail to attack us repeatedly, it would be possible to make a detour from other directions, and the northwest direction, which your regiment was defending, would be the next focus of their attack. So after much consideration, I think that your command is still staying away, and if there is anything, I will contact you by phone. ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Major Podo Prigora swore to Rokossovsky: "Unless all of our regiments are killed, the enemy will be able to step on the corpses of us, the defenders of the city, and storm Shepetovka." ”

While Rokossovsky and the major were on the phone, discussing how to defend Shepetovka, a forward command post set up in a tent in a forest a few kilometers away from the Soviet outpost, was discussing how to attack next. The German division commander swept his eyes over his subordinates one by one, and asked in a deep voice: "Everyone, our attack on Shepetovka for two consecutive days ended in failure, not only a large number of brave soldiers were killed, but also hundreds of combat vehicles were lost. ”

After he finished speaking, the chief of staff of the division stood up and continued: "According to our reconnaissance and inspection of the enemy's corpses on the battlefield, we know that blocking our front is the 109th Division of the 16th Soviet Army, and the 35th Tank Division of the Ninth Mechanized Army. From the analysis of various indications, we have reason to believe that the enemy troops on the opposite side were commanded by Rokossovsky himself. ”

"Rokossovsky?!" After repeating the name, the German division commander asked tentatively: "Is it the Russian general who led the troops to attack our army's Lublin supply depot?" ”

"That's right, Your Excellency, it's him." The chief of staff of the division replied respectfully: "His troops, shortly after the capture of Lublin, also raided a newly built prisoner of war camp and rescued thousands of prisoners of war." ”

As soon as the words of the division chief of staff fell, a German regiment commander sitting next to him spoke: "The waste of logistics, tens of thousands of people passed through the defense line of our army and rushed to Lublin, they were unaware of it, and they should have shot them all." ”

"Mr. Colonel," the chief of staff of the division looked down at the emotional regiment commander and said with a smile on his face: "There are many reasons for the loss of Lublin. In addition to the incompetence of individual officers of our logistics, this Rokossovsky is also too cunning. He actually let the troops who attacked Lublin disguise themselves as our troops, so as to deceive the sentry posts along the way. At this, he shrugged his shoulders and said with some disdain, "His treacherous plan would not have succeeded if it had not been for the fact that all our forces were used to attack the Russian army, resulting in an empty rear." ”

"In addition to the reasons mentioned by the chief of staff, there is also the fact that the territory of Russia and Poland is too vast." The German division commander sighed and continued: "On the march on such a vast plain, if you don't send planes to conduct reconnaissance, let alone an army, even the strength of a group army, it will not be easy to be discovered. At this point, he paused for a moment, then looked up at his chief of staff and asked, "Chief of staff, let's continue to discuss how to attack Shepetovka, you must know that this is an important material base for the Russian army." As soon as we occupy this place, the Russians will be in a situation where they will run out of ammunition and food, and then they will have to obediently lay down their arms and surrender to us. ”

"Your Excellency, please see." The chief of staff moved the map on the table to the division commander and told him about his battle plan: "If we are going to rush to Shepetovka, we must first pull out the outposts of the Russians. Half of our casualties in today's battle are here. ”

"But Your Excellency Chief of Staff, how are we going to pull out this damn outpost?" The regimental commander sitting next to him said impatiently: "The Russians are hiding under the wreckage of those tanks like rats, blocking our way with dense machine-gun fire. One of my battalions launched three charges at this position, but all of them failed. It will be very difficult for us to capture this outpost without first destroying these firing points hidden under the tanks. ”

"Mr. Colonel, you are right." After the division chief of staff smiled politely at him, he continued: "To eliminate these fire points, whether it is bombarded by artillery or aircraft, the effect is not obvious, so the best way is to use Spitfire tanks and burn all these Russians hiding under the tanks with blazing heat." ”

Hearing the chief of staff say this, the eyes of all the officers in the room who were attending the meeting suddenly lit up. Another regiment commander said excitedly: "Great, as far as I can see, the Russians lack enough anti-tank weapons, and even if the Spitfire tanks are approaching their outposts, those fire points will not have a problem with them, so that we can kill all the Russians in flames." ”

"Your Excellency, in addition to using Spitfire tanks to attack the Russian outposts, we should also send a force to make a detour back to the Russian flank." The chief of staff said, pointing with a pencil on the map, "according to the report of the scouts, there is an improvised road in the forest, which leads to the northwest of Shepetovka, and we can send troops along this road to rush to Shepetovka." ”

"Your Excellency Chief of Staff," the regimental commander beside him tilted his head to look at the map and asked hesitantly, "how do you know that this road leads to Shepetovka?" ”

The chief of staff said with a smile: "Mr. Colonel, our scouts found quite a few refugees, bypassing the area we occupied, following this improvised road in the forest, retreating to Shepetovka. According to our reconnaissance, the Russians deployed only one regiment to the northwest of Shepetovka, and although there were several thousand men, their defensive forces naturally appeared weak because the defensive positions were too wide. ”

After listening to the words of the chief of staff of the division, the regiment commander immediately stood up, straightened his body and asked the division commander for instructions: "Your Excellency, I ask you to entrust our regiment with the task of returning to the flank of the Russians. ”

After the division commander and the chief of staff looked at each other, they nodded and said, "Okay, Mr. Colonel, since you are eager to fight, I will agree to your request." You immediately go back to your troops and lead your regiment along the road towards Shepetovka. However, for the sake of secrecy, clear everyone you meet on the road. It's everyone, you know what I mean? ”

When the regimental commander heard this order from the division commander, he hesitated for a moment, and then replied decisively: "Yes, Your Excellency General, I will never let the Russians perceive our actions. A few words of understatement by the two men decided the tragic fate of hundreds of refugees.

To the northwest of Shepetovka, in the temporary division headquarters of the 327th Infantry Regiment.

Major Podo Prigola, who put down the phone, smiled and said to his regimental chief of staff and several battalion commanders: "General Rokossovsky said that after the frontal attack of the Germans was thwarted, it was possible to make a detour from our flank. Didn't he, my God, look at the map? To the north of our defense zone, there is a vast forest as far as the eye can see, and will the Germans pass through the forest? It's just ridiculous. ”

"Regiment commander, no, Comrade Acting Division Commander." As soon as he finished speaking, the commander of the second battalion, Captain Leskov, cautiously reminded: "I think the general is very reasonable, although we have a large forest to the north, but recently many refugees have entered Shepetovka along an abandoned road in the forest. I think we should draw our forces and build a line of defense in the direction of the forest, in case the Germans actually pass through the forest. ”

"Alright, Comrade Captain." Major Podo Prigora looked at his subordinate and said with some displeasure: "Captain Leskov, you are our comrade-in-arms, and if I did not know that you were a tried and tested Bolshevik, I would have thought you were panicking. Your assumption, to put it nicely, is nonsense; To put it more seriously, it is defeatist arguments, which will be sent to court-martial. ”

After Major Puto Prigora finished speaking, there was silence in the room. The regimental chief of staff saw the bulging muscles on Leskov's face because of his clenched teeth, and hurriedly came out to play a round and said: "Division commander, captain, I think you both have a point. However, for the sake of safety, I think it is still necessary to place the necessary vigilance forces in the direction of the forest, knowing that the second battalion of Captain Leskov is currently in reserve for the whole regiment. ”

"Well, Comrade Chief of Staff." Major Podo Prigora may also feel that what he just said was a bit too heavy, but he had just become the acting division commander, and it was impossible for him to apologize to his subordinates for a few words, which would affect his prestige in the army, so he said: "Just set up a guard position in the direction facing the forest, as Captain Leskov said." ”

"Yes!" Reskov, who had regained his composure, lightly agreed, and then asked in accordance with the order: "Comrade Acting Division Commander, can I go back to the troops?" (To be continued.) )