After listening to the company commander's complaints, the regiment commander waved his hand at him, motioned for him to fight aside, and then said to the chief of staff: "Comrade Chief of Staff, if we are constantly harassed by the Germans along the way, then we will not be able to reach the specified place within the specified time. Tell me, what should we do? ”

The regimental chief of staff thought for a moment, and then said: "Comrade regiment commander, I have an idea, see if we can draw two companies and march in the forest on both sides of the main force. In this way, even if there were small German troops in the forest, they would be able to detect them in time. As long as they can hold them back when they find the enemy, then our main forces will be able to rush over and destroy the enemy. ”

The plan of the chief of staff was immediately agreed to by the regiment commander. He thought that this would give him peace of mind, but he forgot that the German troops had been stationed in the area for more than three years, and their familiarity with the environment was unmatched.

Shortly after the troops restarted, the company, which was walking in the forest on the right side of the road, was again attacked by small German troops. The Germans broke into pieces, and in small groups of three or five, fired at the Soviet troops on the march. When the Soviets pursued them, they immediately fled deep into the forest; When the Soviets returned in vain, another group began to attack again.

In this way, the troops of the 351st Regiment spent more than three hours and only advanced less than five kilometers, while also paying the price of more than 200 casualties.

Seeing this, the regiment commander simply went crazy, and he said to the chief of staff: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the Germans are too cunning, what should we do?" If we continue like this, by the time we reach our destination, all of my people will be dead. ”

"Comrade regiment commander," the chief of staff was also helpless at the moment, and he said in embarrassment: "We are not familiar with the terrain here, and we have been frequently attacked by the German army, do you think you should call the division and report the situation here to the division commander?" ”

After thinking for a while, the regiment commander decisively agreed, he did not want to be led by the nose by the Germans anymore, and hoped that the division headquarters could think of a good way for him to come out, so he contacted the division headquarters through the intercom.

When Seryosha heard the commander of the 351st Regiment call him again, he had a sense of foreboding in his heart. He didn't go around in circles, but asked straight to the point: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, how is the current situation, how long does your regiment have to reach its destination?" ”

"Comrade division commander," the regimental commander said with a crying voice, "our regiment was constantly harassed by the Germans along the way, and it was simply impossible to advance quickly. Let's see if we can send some comrades who are familiar with the terrain to act as guides for us, and at the same time help clear out the enemies who are shooting at us in the forest. ”

Seryosha knew these regiment commanders under his command very well, knew that they were all commanders who were brave in combat and had rich combat experience, and now they were all complaining to him vigorously, and it seemed that their current situation was really difficult. Thinking of this, he said to the microphone: "Okay, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I know the situation." You first order the troops to stop and recuperate, and I will contact the commander to see what he can do. ”

When Seryosha called the headquarters of the group army, the communications soldier who answered the phone politely told him: "I'm sorry, Comrade Colonel, the commander is on the phone, could you please call again later?" ”

The words of the signal soldier aroused the curiosity of Seryosha, and he hurriedly asked: "Comrade signal soldier, can I ask, who is the comrade commander talking to?" ”

"I'm sorry, Comrade Colonel." In a polite and distant tone, the communications soldier said to him: "I have no right to reveal to you who is talking to Comrade Commander until I have been authorized. ”

Seryosha hit a soft nail at the signal soldier and had to put down the phone in a sneering manner. He said to the political commissar of the division who was sitting on the side: "I just called Comrade Commander, and the signal soldier told me that Comrade Commander was on the phone, but he refused to tell me who he was talking to. ”

After listening to this, the political commissar said with a serious expression: "Comrade division commander, the signal corps has done the right thing. He deserves credit for strictly abiding by the principle of secrecy and not revealing secrets in the headquarters to others......"

The two talked without saying a word for a long time, and the phone on the table rang suddenly, and Seryosha grabbed the receiver and put it to his ear and said loudly: "I am the division commander Seryosha, where are you?" ”

"I'm Popov." Popov's voice came from the earpiece, and instead of going around in circles with Seryosha, he asked bluntly: "You just called me, is there something wrong with you?" ”

Seeing that Popov had guessed the purpose of his call, Seryosha laughed a little embarrassedly, and then said: "Yes, Comrade Commander, our vanguard regiment was constantly harassed by small German units on the march, and now they are simply unable to continue their advance. ”

"I know what you're talking about." Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Popov said with a normal expression: "When Colonel Vanya called me just now, he specifically talked about this matter. ”

Hearing that the troops of the 181st Division had also been harassed by the Germans on the march, Seryosha's heart suddenly felt much more relaxed. But Popov, who was on the other end of the phone, sensed his reaction and asked coldly: "Colonel Seryosha, do you think that the friendly forces are also experiencing the same problem, and you can take the opportunity to shirk responsibility and blame the Germans for the failure of the troops to arrive at the designated place on time?" ”

Seryosha couldn't help but laugh when he saw that Popov had guessed his mind for the second time. Just as he was thinking about what to say, he heard Popov preemptively say: "The problems you have encountered have been taken into account by the Front Command. No, Comrade Marshal sent a car thirty comrades of the Polish partisans, who were well acquainted with the terrain of this region. I intend to divide half of each of you and Vanya, and let them act as guides for you, so that you can get to the appointed place as quickly as possible. ”

Knowing that his superiors planned to send a group of Polish partisans who were familiar with the terrain to him, Seryosha was overjoyed, and he said in a loud voice: "Thank you, thank you, Comrade Commander. I assure you that with these guides, my troops will rush to the designated place as soon as possible to rescue the imprisoned comrades. ”

The German detachments that were constantly harassing the Soviet army would issue news about a large number of Soviet troops, and after reporting it on the radio, this information was quickly placed on Moder's table. After reading the information, he called his chief of staff, Blakes, and said to him: "Your Excellency, Chief of Staff, look at the telegram sent by our scouts, there are a large number of Russians moving in the direction of the prisoner of war camp. Their goal is obvious, to rescue these prisoners of war who are being held by our army. ”

"Your Excellency," Blakes waited for Modell to finish, and then cautiously asked him, "what do you think we should do?" It would take at least two more days for SS troops to take over the defense of the POW camp, which could be lost if the Russians attacked at such a time. ”

"Your Excellency, Chief of Staff, you are mistaken." "As far as I know, these two Russian divisions have been stationed in this area for a long time, and they have never made any moves. Why did they begin to arrive in the direction of the POW camp shortly after I gave the order for the SS to take over the defense of the POW camp. Could it be that someone has leaked the news? ”

"Your Excellency, you have been overly worried." Blakes waited for Moder to finish speaking, and hurriedly said: "I think it was the telegram we sent to the SS, which was intercepted by the Russians. On the basis of the contents of our telegram, they learned that we intended to send the SS to take over the defense of the prisoner-of-war camps, and therefore took the risk and ordered the two Russian divisions to move closer in the direction of the prisoner-of-war camps. ”

"So, my telegram was deciphered by the Russians?" Hearing this, Moder stopped and frowned and said: "If this is really the case, then it is possible for the Russians to know every order we give to the troops by telegram?" ”

"I think so, Your Excellency." Blakes replied with some difficulty, "I think there should be some changes to the way we convey orders......"

"I'm sorry, Comrade Colonel." In a polite and distant tone, the communications soldier said to him: "I have no right to reveal to you who is talking to Comrade Commander until I have been authorized. ”

Seryosha hit a soft nail at the signal soldier and had to put down the phone in a sneering manner. He said to the political commissar of the division who was sitting on the side: "I just called Comrade Commander, and the signal soldier told me that Comrade Commander was on the phone, but he refused to tell me who he was talking to. ”

After listening to this, the political commissar said with a serious expression: "Comrade division commander, the signal corps has done the right thing. He deserves credit for strictly abiding by the principle of secrecy and not revealing secrets in the headquarters to others......"

The two talked without saying a word for a long time, and the phone on the table rang suddenly, and Seryosha grabbed the receiver and put it to his ear and said loudly: "I am the division commander Seryosha, where are you?" ”

"I'm Popov." Popov's voice came from the earpiece, and instead of going around in circles with Seryosha, he asked bluntly: "You just called me, is there something wrong with you?" ”

Seeing that Popov had guessed the purpose of his call, Seryosha laughed a little embarrassedly, and then said: "Yes, Comrade Commander, our vanguard regiment was constantly harassed by small German units on the march, and now they are simply unable to continue their advance. ”

"I know what you're talking about." Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Popov said with a normal expression: "When Colonel Vanya called me just now, he specifically talked about this matter. ”

Hearing that the troops of the 181st Division had also been harassed by the Germans on the march, Seryosha's heart suddenly felt much more relaxed. But Popov, who was on the other end of the phone, sensed his reaction and asked coldly: "Colonel Seryosha, do you think that the friendly forces are also experiencing the same problem, and you can take the opportunity to shirk responsibility and blame the Germans for the failure of the troops to arrive at the designated place on time?" ”

Seryosha couldn't help but laugh when he saw that Popov had guessed his mind for the second time. Just as he was thinking about what to say, he heard Popov preemptively say: "The problems you have encountered have been taken into account by the Front Command. No, Comrade Marshal sent a car thirty comrades of the Polish partisans, who were well acquainted with the terrain of this region. I intend to divide half of each of you and Vanya, and let them act as guides for you, so that you can get to the appointed place as quickly as possible. ”

Knowing that his superiors planned to send a group of Polish partisans who were familiar with the terrain to him, Seryosha was overjoyed, and he said in a loud voice: "Thank you, thank you, Comrade Commander. I assure you that with these guides, my troops will rush to the designated place as soon as possible to rescue the imprisoned comrades. ”

The German detachments that were constantly harassing the Soviet army would issue news about a large number of Soviet troops, and after reporting it on the radio, this information was quickly placed on Moder's table. After reading the information, he called his chief of staff, Blakes, and said to him: "Your Excellency, Chief of Staff, look at the telegram sent by our scouts, there are a large number of Russians moving in the direction of the prisoner of war camp. Their goal is obvious, to rescue these prisoners of war who are being held by our army. ”

"Your Excellency," Blakes waited for Modell to finish, and then cautiously asked him, "what do you think we should do?" It would take at least two more days for SS troops to take over the defense of the POW camp, which could be lost if the Russians attacked at such a time. ”

"Your Excellency, Chief of Staff, you are mistaken." "As far as I know, these two Russian divisions have been stationed in this area for a long time, and they have never made any moves. Why did they begin to arrive in the direction of the POW camp shortly after I gave the order for the SS to take over the defense of the POW camp. Could it be that someone has leaked the news? ”

"Your Excellency, you have been overly worried." Blakes waited for Moder to finish speaking, and hurriedly said: "I think it was the telegram we sent to the SS, which was intercepted by the Russians. On the basis of the contents of our telegram, they learned that we intended to send the SS to take over the defense of the prisoner-of-war camps, and therefore took the risk and ordered the two Russian divisions to move closer in the direction of the prisoner-of-war camps. ”

"So, my telegram was deciphered by the Russians?" Hearing this, Moder stopped and frowned and said: "If this is really the case, then it is possible for the Russians to know every order we give to the troops by telegram?" ”

"I think so, Your Excellency." Blakes replied with some difficulty, "I think there should be some changes to the way we convey orders......"

"Change? How to change the law? ”