red moscow

Chapter 2766 Declined
After establishing contact with the defenders in the front position, the troops set out again and successfully entered the defense zone of the 405th Regiment through the passage opened up by the defenders.

Karelin, who learned of the mission, successfully completed the task of rescuing General Vlasov. When they entered the defense zone, in addition to the commander of the 405th Regiment, even the commander of the 135th Division came to greet them.

However, when the division commander saw two generals with the rank of major general in front of him, he was a little confused. Although he had heard of Vlasov's name, he had never seen him before. After all, they were not from the same army group. He took off his wide-brimmed hat, revealing his big bald head. After scratching the back of his head, he asked awkwardly: "Comrades generals, I am Colonel Semyon, the commander of the 135th Infantry Division. I wonder which one of you is General Vlasov?"

From the expression on Colonel Semyon's face, Vlasov guessed that the other party definitely didn't recognize him, so he quickly took a few steps forward and said, "Comrade Colonel, I am Vlasov. Thank you for sending someone to pick us up, so that we can successfully reach our defense zone."

"Hello, Comrade General." Semyon raised his hand and saluted Vlasov. "It is a task assigned to our division by our superiors to pick you up. It is my honor to serve you."

After shaking hands with the other party, Vlasov began to introduce the people around him: "This is Colonel Del, my army chief of staff; this is Comrade Nikolsky, the army military commissar and regimental political commissar."

Semyon was surprised to see that Vlasov did not introduce another major general. He wondered if this general was the deputy commander of the 37th Army.
The next moment, Vlasov introduced Potapov's identity to Semyon: "This is Major General Potapov, he is the commander of the 5th Army."

"What? You are Major General Potapov, the commander of the 5th Army?" After listening to Vlasov's report, Semyon was shocked. Although the leaflets scattered by the German army on the battlefield were collected by the political workers in time, the ordinary officers and soldiers could not see the content of the leaflets, but it did not mean that he, the division commander, could not see it. The original leaders of the Southwestern Front were all killed and the commander of the 5th Army, Major General Potapov, was captured. The leaflets clearly stated that

At this moment, he saw the captured general in the German leaflet standing in front of him alive. It would be strange if he was not shocked. After a long time, he lowered his voice and asked: "General Potapov, the German leaflet said that you were captured by them. It seems that these are all rumors?"

After Sokov rescued Potapov from the soap factory, he had a private chat with him. He knew very well that if Potapov admitted that he had been captured by the Germans, he would be severely investigated by the relevant departments after returning to Moscow, and he would be imprisoned at best, or even in danger of his life. Therefore, Sokov suggested to the other party that since the officers and soldiers who knew about his capture were either still in the German prisoner-of-war camp or died during the retreat, he might as well conceal the news, which would be of great benefit to him.

At first, Potapov disagreed with Sokov's proposal, thinking that if he really concealed the fact that he was captured, he would be punished more severely if it was discovered in the future. But on the way to the defense zone, after a private communication with Vlasov, the other party also persuaded him that since the people who knew the truth about his capture were no longer around, he could completely conceal the matter to avoid being severely punished after returning.

When Potapov heard Colonel Semyon's question, he was flustered for a moment, but soon returned to normal: "Comrade Colonel, you should know that the German army always fabricates all kinds of rumors to confuse us in order to undermine our army's morale. If I were really captured, would I be able to appear in front of you now?"

When Colonel Semyon heard this, it seemed to be true, so he stopped worrying about it and asked Vlasov: "Comrade General, since you have come to my division's defense zone, I wonder what you plan to do next? Are you going to the army headquarters or the front headquarters?"

"Colonel, please take us to your division headquarters first." Vlasov said, "I want to talk to Marshal Timoshenko personally. Everything will be under his command."

The 135th Division certainly could not call the front headquarters directly. So Semyon first ordered the communications staff to call the army headquarters and report to the commander, Major General Podlas: "Hello, comrade commander! I am Colonel Semyon, the commander of the 13th Infantry Division. Now my people have picked up General Vlasov."

"Well done, Colonel Semyon." Upon learning that Vlasov had been rescued, Major General Podlas was naturally overjoyed. The first mission assigned to him by the front headquarters was completed so smoothly. This was a good sign: "We will reward the officers and soldiers who participated in this operation."

"Comrade Commander, I have another important matter to report to you."

When Major General Podlas heard what Colonel Semyon said, he immediately became alert. He asked solemnly, "Comrade Colonel, is there anything else important?"

"The people I sent out not only rescued General Vlasov, the commander of the 37th Army," Colonel Semyon reported, "but also General Potapov, the commander of the 5th Army."

As soon as he finished speaking, Major General Podlas said loudly: "Impossible, this is absolutely impossible."

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Seeing that Podlas didn't believe him, Colonel Semyon quickly explained: "I really didn't lie to you..."

Before he could finish his words, Potapov stepped forward and took the microphone from his hand: "Comrade Colonel, let me have a word with General Podlas."

"Kuzma, it's me," Potapov said into the microphone. "My name is Misha."

Hearing Potapov say this, Sokov wondered in his heart, could it be that Potapov knows General Podlas?
Podlas, who was on the other end of the line, heard Potapov's voice and asked in surprise: "Are you Mikhail Ivanovich?"

"Yes, Kuzma Petrovich, it's me." Hearing the other party calling him by his real name and father's name, Potapov also responded politely: "I jumped out of the encirclement of the Germans and came to your defense zone."

"Didn't the German leaflets say that you were captured by them?"

"These are all rumors deliberately fabricated by the Germans in order to undermine the morale of our army."

"Yeah, I think so." Podlas felt that Potapov was his old friend and would definitely not deceive him about such a thing. Therefore, he regarded the contents of the German leaflets as rumors fabricated by the enemy. He asked with concern: "Misha, what are your plans next?"

"I don't know either." Potapov asked, "Have you received any mission related to me?"

Podlas naturally understood what his old comrade meant by the question, and quickly replied: "I'm sorry, Misha, no."

"What about General Vlasov?" Potapov turned his head and glanced at Vlasov who was sitting next to him. "After the pick-up is completed, how do you plan to place him?"

"According to Marshal Timoshenko's order, we need to report to General Vlasov immediately after we meet him. How to place General Vlasov must be subject to Marshal Timoshenko's order."

"I understand," Potapov said. "I intend to go with General Vlasov. Wherever he goes, I will go."

"I am four or five kilometers away from the headquarters of the 135th Infantry Division, and the front headquarters is thirty kilometers away from me." Podlas said, "I will decide how to arrange for you after I consult Marshal Timoshenko."

After hanging up the phone, Potapov said to Vlasov: "General Vlasov, I just called Podlas, and he said to contact the front headquarters immediately to see how Marshal Timoshenko plans to accommodate us."

"General Potapov, do you plan to stay in the Southwestern Front, or return to Moscow and let your superiors assign you a new position?" "I think it might be more appropriate to return to Moscow and let my superiors assign me a new position." Potapov said with a complicated expression: "In the recent Battle of Kiev, the 1st Army Group under my command was basically wiped out. Even if I stay in the Southwestern Front, I'm afraid I won't have any troops to command."

"You are right." Vlasov agreed with Potapov's statement: "Not only you have to return to Moscow, I have to return to Moscow as well. You know, my 37th Army was basically exhausted not long ago. If it weren't for Captain Sokov, I would have died in Kiev or become a prisoner of the Germans."

When Potapov heard Vlasov mention Sokov, an idea suddenly occurred to his mind: "General Vlasov, if the superior appoints me as the new army group commander, I wonder if you can give up and give me Captain Sokov. I want him to go to the lower unit and become a battalion commander."

Unexpectedly, as soon as Potapov's proposal came out, Vlasov opposed it: "No, no, General Potapov. Captain Sokov is my most capable subordinate. I use him very well. How can I give him to you casually?"

Hearing what Vlasov said, Colonel Del next to him also said: "That's right, General Potapov. Captain Sokov is responsible for protecting the safety of our headquarters. If he is given to you, I'm afraid we won't be able to find a suitable candidate to take over his position in a short period of time."

Seeing that Vlasov disagreed with his proposal, Potapov was not discouraged. He planned to find a suitable time to talk to Sokov privately. As long as the other party did not object, he would have a way to poach him.

Ten minutes later, the phone in the division headquarters rang.

Colonel Xie Miao picked up the phone: "I am Colonel Xie Miao, the division commander. Who are you?"

"This is Podlas." Podlas's voice came from the receiver: "Are Generals Vlasov and Potapov still in your division headquarters?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Semyon glanced at Vlasov and Potapov who were sitting not far away, and asked respectfully, "Do we need them to answer the phone?"

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"That's not necessary," Podlas said. "I've sent a car to your division headquarters. Once the car arrives, let them take it to the front headquarters. By the way, who else is accompanying them besides the two of them?"

"In addition to Generals Vlasov and Potapov, there are Colonel Del, the Chief of Staff of the 37th Army, and Comrade Nikolsky, the Military Commissar and Regimental Political Commissar." Semyon replied respectfully, "In addition, there is a small force of nearly people, commanded by a captain named Sokov."

"I see." Podlas said, "Two jeeps will arrive soon. Let the two generals take one each. As for the accompanying soldiers, you will arrange a few trucks for them. Remember that?"

"Remember that, Comrade Commander."

After waiting for a while, two jeeps sent by Podlas arrived.

Colonel Semyon arranged for Vlasov, Colonel Del and Nikolsky to board one of the jeeps, and Potapov to board another jeep. Four trucks were also arranged to transport the accompanying officers and soldiers.

Just as the convoy was about to set off, Potapov got out of his car and said to Sokov, who was directing the soldiers to get on the car: "Captain Sokov, take my car and go with me later. I want to have a good talk with you."

Sokov guessed that Potapov must have something important to tell him, so after all the soldiers got on the car, he got into Potapov's car.

"Comrade General, what do you want from me?"

"Captain Sokov, I want to ask you something." Potapov asked Sokov with a smile: "How long have you been following General Vlasov?"

"It's been more than a month."

"More than a month." Potapov then asked, "Before that, who were you working for?"

Sokov scratched the back of his head and continued, "Before that, I joined a small unit that was broken up. That unit retreated from the Uman area. As for the unit number, I forgot to ask."

"Where is that unit now?"

"In August, we followed General Vlasov to Moscow to report on his work. After arriving in Nezhin, we lost contact with them." Sokov shook his head and said, "I don't know where they are now."

After hearing Sokov mention the Battle of Uman, Potapov pinched his chin and said, "In the Battle of Uman, our troops participating in the battle were the 6th, 12th and 18th Army Groups; while the German troops involved in the battle were the 1st Tank Group and the 6th Army Group. Few of the besieged troops finally escaped from the encirclement. You were lucky."

"Yes, only those who are lucky can escape the German encirclement."

"Captain Sokov, I asked you to come to my car because I have something to discuss with you."

"Please tell me, Comrade General."

"If I really return to Moscow, maybe my superiors will appoint you as the commander of one of my troops." Potapov looked at Sokov and asked, "Now I lack talented commanders. I wonder if you are willing to follow me?"

Hearing Potapov's proposal, Sokov couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. The last time he traveled through time, he rescued Potapov from the prisoner-of-war camp and helped him resume his military status, making him his subordinate. But now, his former subordinate wanted to become his superior, which was obviously something he could not agree to.

So he said tactfully: "General Potapov, thank you for your trust in me. But I am now a subordinate of General Vlasov and have no plans to go to other troops for the time being. I can only refuse your kindness, please forgive me!"

(End of this chapter)