Red Moscow

Righteous among the Nations means: righteous people in all countries of the world. Established in memory of those non-Jews who took great personal risks to rescue Jews during the Holocaust.

There are more than 20,000 people included in the list of "Righteous Among the Nations" by the Jews, and there are 455 people in Germany. Among them is Schindler, the protagonist in the movie "Schindler's List". Another well-known person is William Hosenfeld. He helped more than 50 Jews during the German occupation of Poland. Unfortunately, after the war, he was imprisoned as a prisoner of war. He entered a Soviet prisoner-of-war camp, but no one of the Jews he helped helped him, so he died of illness in the prisoner-of-war camp in 1952.

For such a conscientious and helpful Wehrmacht officer, Sokov was quite willing to help him. Thinking of this, he looked at the other person and asked: "Mr. Hosenfeld, can you tell me why you didn't use your true identity in the prisoner of war camp? You know, if you hadn't taken the initiative to greet Spielman, we might have You missed it. We will continue to search for your whereabouts in other prisoner of war camps; but you can only be an ordinary soldier, patiently waiting for your repatriation. "

Hearing what Sokov said, Hossenfeld had a surprised expression on his face: "Mr. General, do you mean that we might be deported back to the country?"

"Deporting you back to the country is the general trend, but it is not possible for the time being." After Sokov said this, he saw a disappointed expression on Hosenfeld's face, and continued: "The war has just ended, it will take some time. Gradually return to normal life. Germany is in a mess today. Even if you are repatriated, you will not be able to be properly settled. Instead, you, the repatriated prisoners of war, will become a factor of instability. But when can we repatriate you? It’s still an unknown number, so I hope you can wait patiently.”

The German prisoners of war in this prison camp have been detained for almost a year. After learning that the war was over, everyone was eager to return home, hoping that the Soviet army could arrange repatriation as soon as possible. Now that they heard that they did not know the specific repatriation time, a German captain who had not gone far muttered in a low voice: " It’s really unlucky. If we could retreat to Germany earlier, we might be able to surrender to the British and American Allies. In that case, we could return to our homeland sooner.”

When Agelina heard what the German captain said, she leaned close to Sokov's ear and translated what the other party said.

After hearing this, Sokov couldn't help but sneer again and again, saying to himself, do you really think that becoming a member of the British and American Allied Forces will have a better fate than staying in a Soviet prisoner of war camp? It seems that you should really go to the Rhine Camp to experience the "care" of the British and American Allied Forces for the prisoners of war.

Those German prisoners of war who entered the "Rhine Camp" had no idea that the US military, which claimed to be civilized and humane, would arrange for them to stay in the wilderness for several months in a harsh environment. They initially refused to take off their clothes and hats, thinking that the US military would soon arrange new accommodation for them. When they realized that staying in the Rhine Camp was going to be a life-and-death test, all self-esteem and arrogance were put aside. The German prisoners of war, who paid attention to cleanliness and order, began a life similar to that of rats, pigs and dogs. The prisoner-of-war camp was full of holes, the floor was full of filth, and plague was rampant.

The surrendered prisoners of war were divided into square formations and sent to prisoner of war camps along the Rhine River in turn. After one prisoner of war camp was full, the barbed wire gate of the other prisoner of war camp was opened. These prisoners of war who have just entered the prisoner of war camp usually do not receive any food and water for 2 to 4 days, because the US military believes that hunger and thirst will prevent these prisoners of war from having the energy to cause trouble.

After food and water began to be provided, the prisoners of war would find that the supply was simply not enough to meet the daily needs of the prisoners in the camp. In addition, there are no washing facilities, no medical equipment, no disinfection equipment, and no medical measures in the prisoner-of-war camp. The treatment and care of the sick and wounded are mainly handled by the medical staff among the prisoners of war themselves. There was only a simple ditch toilet in each prisoner-of-war camp. Many sick and weak people lacked the physical strength to pass through the dirty and chaotic crowds to reach the toilet. They often defecated in the shelter, causing the environment of the camp to deteriorate day by day, causing dysentery, typhoid fever, and gangrene. Diseases such as pneumonia and pneumonia began to spread in various camps, forming a final blow to the dying people.

The U.S. officers and soldiers guarding the camp strictly prohibited the prisoners of war from having any contact with the outside world. If they found nearby residents providing food to the prisoners of war, they would immediately shoot them. In addition, if the local German management department provided living supplies to the prisoners of war, after the U.S. military discovered it, the person involved would They will be investigated and even executed. The Swiss Red Cross tried to provide food, medicine and daily necessities to the "Rhine Camp". After arriving, Eisenhower ordered these items to be transported back to Switzerland.

In later generations, there were many speculations about the death toll of prisoners of war at the Rhine Camp. But the unified view is that about 800,000 to 1 million prisoners of war died in these sixteen prisoner of war camps along the Rhine River.

However, Sokov did not talk about the Rhine Camp to these prisoners of war. Even if he did, the prisoners of war would not believe it. Instead, they would think that he was deliberately vilifying the Allies and saying good things for the Soviet army. After all, he was It is normal for Soviet generals to speak for their own people.

"Mr. Hosenfeld," Sokov almost passed by Hosenfel because of his military rank, so he wanted to find out what the reason was: "Since you are a German captain, why are you in a prisoner of war camp? I can’t find your name in the officer list?”

"Mr. General, the reason is very simple." When Sokov asked, Hosenfeld took the initiative and said: "Before my troops withdrew from Warsaw, I went to see Mr. Spielman. In addition to leaving him In addition to some food, I also gave him my military coat. During the transfer process, the barrel truck I was riding in ran over a mine, and the driver was killed. When I got off the truck, I felt it was too cold outside, so I took it off. What is the driver wearing his military coat?

Not long after, I was captured by you together with the participating officers and soldiers. When the registration officer registered my name, I truthfully stated my name and military rank, but the other party concluded that I was lying based on the military coat I was wearing, and took away the driver's ID and used it as my ID. Register. "

"Comrade Colonel," Sokov turned to Balanin who was standing next to him after listening to Agelina's translation: "Because of the negligence of your subordinates, we almost made a mistake."

Balanin raised his hand to wipe the non-existent cold sweat on his forehead, and said awkwardly: "Comrade General, this is an oversight on my part. After I go back later, I will ask each prisoner of war camp to conduct self-examination to see if there is any problem." Is there any similar situation?”

Sokov was not Balanin's boss, and he didn't care at all whether the other party was conducting self-examination in the prisoner of war camp. When he saw Spielman and Hosenfeld starting to chat, he whispered to Agelina: "Agelina, ask Spielman how he plans to help Hosenfeld?"

Agelina nodded, walked quickly to Spielman's side, and communicated with the two of them in skilled Polish.

When Balanin saw that Agelina could speak Polish so fluently and also spoke a few words of German from time to time, a look of astonishment appeared on his face. He tentatively asked Sokov: "Comrade General, who is your girlfriend?" What does she do? Why do I feel like she knows so many languages?”

Sokov smiled slightly and said: "She is an intelligence agent working underground." The word "intelligence agent" was used because Sokov felt that it was not appropriate to use "agent" to describe Agelina. After all, she He only knows how to collect intelligence and knows nothing about firearms: "I was previously ordered to lurk in Warsaw to collect information useful to our army."

Balanin originally wanted to ask Sokov how they got to know Spielman, a Polish pianist, but when Sokov said that Agelina had done intelligence work in Warsaw before, he thought so. They thought that Spielman had cooperated with them before, so they gave up the plan of asking.

"Misha, Mr. Spielman hopes that we can help Hossenfeld leave the prisoner of war camp." After finishing the conversation with Spielman and Hossenfel, Agelina returned to Sokov and said: "Do you think it can be done?"

If the three Sokovs found the prisoner of war camp alone, it would be very difficult to take someone away from the camp. But at this moment, Colonel Balanin, the person in charge of the Warsaw prisoner of war camp, is around, and things will be much easier to handle. Sokov looked at Balanin and asked politely: "Comrade Colonel, I want to take Captain Hosenfeld out of the prisoner of war camp. I don't know what procedures need to be completed? Please give me some advice."

Upon hearing Sokov's question, Balanin hesitated for a moment and asked in an uncertain tone: "Comrade General, do you plan to take this prisoner of war out of here?"

"Yes, Comrade Colonel." Sokov said to Balanin in a positive tone: "According to my analysis, this German captain must have helped more than just Spielman, and there may be more people. . Such conscientious Germans should receive their own awards.”

"Reward?!" Upon hearing this word, Baranin's face was filled with doubts: "What reward should I give him?"

"I estimate that our repatriation work to the German prisoner-of-war camps will have to wait several years at the earliest." Sokov said to Balanin with a smile: "The reward I am talking about is to release him early and let him return as soon as possible. Germany, reunited with his family. What do you mean?"

After figuring out Sokov's intention, Baranin nodded and said: "Of course, Comrade General. As long as you sign a signature, I can issue a release certificate to Captain Hosenfeld and issue it to him. Pass."

"That's great, Comrade Colonel." Sokov said gratefully: "On behalf of Spielman and Hosenfeld, I would like to express my gratitude to you!"

Baranin called the person in charge of the prisoner of war camp and told him: "You immediately prepare a document to release this Captain Hossenfeld. Move quickly, I will wait for you here."

The person in charge of the prisoner of war camp did not dare to neglect, and quickly turned around and ran to the wooden house where his office was located to prepare the documents Balanin needed.

"Comrade General," Baranin asked tentatively after his men left, "If Captain Hosenfeld is released, how will he return to Germany?"

"Comrade Colonel, you don't have to worry about this." Sokov said: "The train I am on will return to Berlin tomorrow at the latest. I will just take him with me then."

Seeing that Sokov had considered all the issues that should be considered, Balanin nodded and said: "When the documents are ready, he can be released."

"Do you have a bathing place here?"

Balanin was stunned after hearing this, and then asked: "Comrade General, do you plan to take a bath here?" Before Sokov could answer, he said smartly: "The environment here is too bad. If you want to take a bath, you can Go to the garrison headquarters, there are special bathrooms there.”

"Wrong, Comrade Colonel, you made a mistake." Sokov waved his hand and said: "It's not that I want to take a bath, but that Captain Hossenfeld takes a bath. You see the clothes he is wearing, at least for almost a year It’s been washed, and you can smell a sour smell from a distance. I don’t want this unpleasant smell to permeate my box.”

Balanin called a soldier in the prisoner of war camp and asked him in a low voice where he could take a bath. Sokov asked Agelina to call Hosenfeld over and said to him personally: "Mr. Captain, in addition to helping Mr. Spielman, have you also helped other Jews?"

Although Hosenfeld did not know that Sokov planned to rescue him, he still answered truthfully when he heard this question: "Mr. General, in addition to Spielman, I also helped no less than fifty Jews..."

When Agelina translated Hosenfeld's words, Balanin, who had just learned about the situation from the soldiers, was shocked: "Oh my God, you have actually helped more than fifty Jews. If this matter is brought to you, If your superiors find out, I'm afraid your life will be in danger."

Sokov agreed very much with Balanin's statement. What if Hossenfeld was helping Szpilman and was discovered by his superiors that he was actually helping the Jews. It is estimated that the grass on his grave can be used to weave straw sandals. We can directly weave two pairs, one for each of him and Spielman.

Sokov said to Balanin: "Comrade Colonel, ask your subordinates to take him to take a shower first. He smells really bad. By the way, remember to find him some clean clothes." Then. He then said to Hosenfeld, "Captain Hosenfel, follow this soldier to take a bath and throw away this dirty military uniform."

When Hossenfeld heard Sokov asking him to take a shower with the soldiers guarding the prisoner of war camp, a confused expression appeared on his face: "Mr. General, why do you want to take a shower?"

"Captain Hosenfeld, since you selflessly provided help to more than fifty Jews during the German occupation of Warsaw, your kindness not only changed the fate of these Jews, but also changed your fate." Soko The husband smiled and said: "Hurry up and follow this soldier to take a shower, change into clean clothes, and then I will take you out of here." At this point, he raised his hand and looked at the time, "I can only give you 20 minutes, when the time is up, we will leave here."

"Really, Mr. General?" After hearing Agelina's translation, Hoshenfeld was shocked at first, and then a burst of ecstasy. He asked in an unbelievable tone: "I can really leave here and come back again?" To Germany?”

"Of course, Captain Hosenfeld." Sokov said, staring at his watch: "You only have 19 minutes left."