Red Moscow

After confirming that the attack target of the vanguard battalion of the 8th Guards Army was indeed the main position of the German army, Rokossovsky immediately mobilized the main forces of the 47th Army, the 8th Guards Army, and the 69th Army to attack the enemy's defense. The position launched a violent attack.

Zhukov, who was staying at the headquarters of the 65th Army, learned that Rokossovsky had mobilized three armies to launch a fierce offensive west of Kovel, and immediately called him to ask about the war. The progress.

"Koschka," Zhukov asked on the phone: "I heard that you used three armies to attack the enemy's defensive positions in the area west of Kovel. How is the situation now? Breakthrough Are the enemy's defenses?"

Although the battle lasted only an hour or so at the moment, the three armies participating in the battle all achieved good results. Therefore, hearing Zhukov's question, Rokossovsky replied proudly: "They are all in their respective fields. , made a successful breakthrough and is now advancing in depth into the enemy's defenses."

"Koschka," Zhukov said after Rokossovsky had finished speaking, "although I am not qualified to give you orders, I still suggest that the combined armies should put tank corps and cavalry corps into battle and fight with them. Synergize and develop an attack on Siedlce and Lublin."

"Comrade Marshal, you have the same thoughts as me." Rokossowski said: "I also plan to let the troops attack in the direction of Siedlce and Lublin, and strive to enter Poland in the shortest possible time."

When Zhukov heard that Rokossovsky's thoughts coincided with his own, a knowing smile appeared on his face: "Koschka, if the troops you command are the first in Poland, you will definitely be recorded in the annals of history." of."

"Even if my troops break through the layers of German defenses and enter Poland in the shortest possible time, they are still not the first army to enter the enemy's territory."

Zhukov was taken aback for a moment, and then he understood what Rokossovsky wanted to express: "Koschka, you mean to say that Misha was the first commander who commanded the troops to enter the enemy's territory?"

"Yes, Comrade Marshal, that's exactly what I think."

"Koschka, you don't feel jealous of one of your subordinates, do you?" Zhukov said with a smile on the phone: "Although the title of the first commander who commanded troops to enter the enemy's territory has nothing to do with you. But according to my estimation, the Belarusian First Front Army under your command may become the first army to storm into Berlin in the future.

You know, the first commander to command an army into enemy territory will indeed be envied by people because he is recorded in the annals of history. But the commander who commanded the first troops to storm Berlin will live forever. "

Zhukov's comfort made Rokossovsky feel much better. Thinking that Zhukov was in the 65th Army at the moment, he tentatively asked: "Comrade Marshal, I wonder how the 65th Army is doing today?"

"General Batov is dispatching troops and preparing to launch a new attack on the German army." Zhukov said: "However, he listened to his discussion with the chief of staff and others, and planned to go nearby to find a prisoner-of-war camp and rescue the prisoners inside. , have all been incorporated into their own troops to supplement the soldiers lost in the early battles."

Knowing that Batov was considering the issue of replenishing troops, Rokossovsky also took the opportunity to say: "Comrade Marshal, it has been almost a month since Operation Bagration began, and the troops on the right wing of our front are engaged in high-intensity battles every day. , The downsizing of several armies is not small, I wonder if you can say hello to the Supreme Command and replenish us with lost troops as soon as possible."

"It's not easy, Koschka." Although Zhukov is a marshal and has the status of deputy commander in chief, he is also a clever woman who can't cook without rice. He knows that Rokossovsky's army lacks soldiers, but he has no ability. Supplement for it: "However, I will convey your meaning to the Supreme Commander himself. As for whether to supplement you, it can only depend on your luck."

After Zhukov finished talking with Rokossovsky, he asked the messenger to help him connect to the Kremlin switchboard. But when he heard the voice of the female operator coming from the receiver, he said in a stern tone: "This is Zhukov, help me answer Comrade Antonov's office." , Hastily put through the phone call of Chief of General Staff Antonov for him.

"I'm Antonov!" Soon, Antonov's voice came from the receiver: "Hello, Marshal Zhukov!"

"Hello, Comrade Antonov," said Zhukov.

Antonov didn't think that at such a time, Zhukov would be idle and call himself for no reason. Since he called at this moment, it meant that he had something important to discuss with himself, so he asked respectfully, "May I ask what you want?"

Zhukov asked briefly: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, I would like to ask, how are the preparations at Konev's place?"

"Report to Comrade Marshal." Antonov replied: "Marshal Konev has been actively preparing for war since he took over the post of commander of the Ukrainian First Front Army, and is ready to launch an attack at any time."

"If I ask Konev to launch an offensive in Ukraine immediately." Zhukov waited for Antonov to finish speaking, and asked slowly: "How long will it take him to prepare?"

Regarding Zhukov's question, Antonov thought for a while and replied: "Comrade Marshal, I can't be sure, but according to my estimation, it will take about three days to prepare."

After saying this, he paused for a moment, and then asked tentatively: "Comrade Marshal, why did you suddenly ask about this matter, do you have any thoughts?"

"That's right, Comrade Chief of the General Staff." Zhukov explained to Antonov: "Rokossovsky's left wing of the 1st Belorussian Front has launched an attack on the enemy west of Kovel. According to his According to the plan, after the implementation of an effective breakthrough, the troops will develop an offensive in the direction of Siedlce and Lublin. If Konev launches a new offensive in Ukraine at this moment, it can effectively contain the enemy's effective forces and prevent them from attacking Lublin. We will increase our troops in the direction of Lin to ensure that Rokossovsky's troops can enter Poland smoothly."

"Comrade Marshal." Antonov waited for Zhukov to finish speaking, thought for a moment, and then expressed his true thoughts: "I suggest that you contact Marshal Konev in person. You must know that you are the representative sent by the headquarters. , originally had the mission of coordinating the operations of the Belarusian Front Army and the Ukrainian Front Army.”

"Alright then." After hearing Antonov's suggestion, Zhukov nodded and said, "Then I will contact Marshal Konev to discuss how the two front armies can cooperate in combat."

"That's the best." Antonov said: "Anyway, Marshal Konev has been authorized to launch a new round of attack at the right place at the right time."

Zhukov quickly contacted Konev, and he didn't go around in circles, but asked bluntly: "Marshal Konev, I wonder if your troops are ready for battle?"

"Yes, Marshal Zhukov." Konev replied: "My troops are already ready to fight and are ready to launch a thunderous blow against the German troops entrenched in Ukraine."

"Rokossovsky's troops on the left wing of the 1st Belarusian Front have launched a fierce offensive against the German army west of Kovel." Zhukov said to Konev: "After successfully breaking through the enemy's defenses, They will push in the direction of Siedlce and Lublin, and from there into Poland..."

Konev was also an excellent commander. Although Zhukov didn't immediately explain why he came, he saw Zhukov's intention to call him from the map in front of him, so he tentatively asked: "Marshal Zhukov, are you here?" Is the purpose of calling me to let me launch a large-scale offensive in Ukraine to attract the attention of the Germans, so that they cannot deploy troops to reinforce the defenders in the direction of Lublin?"

Seeing that Konev guessed his intentions, Zhukov showed a smile on his face: "It's easy to talk to smart people. That's right, I called you because I want you to launch an offensive as soon as possible to attract the attention of the Germans. , so that they could not raise enough troops, but strengthened Lublin's garrison."

After confirming the purpose of Zhukov's call to himself, Konev said very readily: "Don't worry, Marshal Zhukov, I will launch another attack on the enemy in Ukraine in the shortest possible time, so that they cannot deploy troops to strengthen garrison in the direction of Lublin."

"Marshal Konev, I don't know how many days you need to prepare before you can start attacking the German army in Ukraine?"

"Three days."

"No, three days is too long."

"That's two days."

"It still doesn't work." Zhukov still denied the time he said.

"Marshal Zhukov," Konev asked cautiously, "then tell me, when should we start our offensive?"

"Tomorrow is best." Zhukov explained to Konev: "Judging from the current progress of the left wing forces, they will push towards the Siedlce and Lublin areas by tomorrow afternoon at the latest. If your actions are slow, Then the enemy can calmly deploy troops to strengthen the defense in the direction of Lublin."

Hearing what Zhukov said, Konev also realized that time was running out, and he must not delay, so he simply said: "Marshal Zhukov, then I will order the troops to attack the enemy tomorrow morning, do you think it is appropriate?"

Zhukov heard Konev say that he planned to launch an offensive the next day, and felt that his goal had been achieved, so he nodded and said, "I think it is undoubtedly the most appropriate to launch an offensive tomorrow. Marshal Konev, then I will wait." Good news for you."

As soon as Konev put down the phone, he said to his chief of staff, General Sokolovsky: "Comrade chief of staff, immediately notify the commanders of the various armies to come to me for a meeting, and say that I will assign them important combat tasks." .”

When Sokolovsky heard this, he immediately smiled, and asked urgently, "Comrade Commander, so we are going to attack the German troops in Ukraine?"

"Yes, we have rested for such a long time, and it is time to take some action."

"I wonder how many days you plan to attack?"

"Tomorrow." Konev replied briefly: "The offensive against the German forces in Ukraine will begin tomorrow morning."

Sokolovski's smile froze on his face. He didn't expect Konev to be so impatient that he decided to attack the German army in Ukraine the next day.

"What, attack tomorrow?" Sokolovski asked in surprise, "Is it too urgent?"

"No rush, no rush at all." Konev shook his head and said, "Our troops have rested for such a long time, so it's time to move."

"But launching an attack tomorrow would be a little too hasty."

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Konev explained to Sokolovsky: "Rokossovsky's left flank has succeeded in breaking through in the area west of Kovel. Next, his troops will report to Sokolovsky. The Delce and Lublin areas are advancing, and the reason why we launched an attack at this time is to contain the enemy's forces so that they cannot mobilize their forces to strengthen the direction of Lublin."

After hearing this, Sokolovsky couldn't help but sneered and said: "Rokossovsky's calculations are good. We help them contain the enemy, and they can easily capture Lublin without reinforcements."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, you can't say that." Fortunately, Konev still kept a clear head, and he said to Sokolovsky: "While we are holding back the German troops in Ukraine, why haven't they held back the enemy's forces?" The main force. You must know that if we launch an offensive campaign tomorrow, the German army under attack will not only be unable to support Lublin, but at the same time, the enemy under attack by Rokossovsky’s troops will also be unable to mobilize troops to deal with us. In this way , the resistance our ministry launches in Ukraine will be greatly weakened."

After listening to Konev's analysis, Sokolovsky thought about it for a while, and felt that what the commander of the front army said was very reasonable. If the attack is launched tomorrow, not only will the enemy be unable to reinforce Lublin, but at the same time, the troops attacked by Rokossovsky will also be unable to deploy troops to strengthen the cities in front of their own troops. The battle in Ukraine will be much easier.

After figuring out the situation, Sokolovsky grabbed the phone on the table in front of him, and said to Konev: "Comrade Marshal, I will call the commanders of the various armies and ask them to come over for a meeting immediately. Accept the combat mission you assigned to them."

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Konev reminded Sokolovsky: "Not only must the commanders of the combined armies of various arms be notified to come to the meeting, but the commander of the Air Force Army should also not forget. You know, in the next battle, Our ground offensive force is inseparable from the air support of the Air Force."

"Don't worry, Comrade Marshal." Sokolovski said solemnly: "I will definitely notify all the commanders of the army groups belonging to the front army to come to the meeting, and none of them will be left behind."

Konev nodded, looked down at the map in front of him, and began to wonder in his heart: If an attack on the German army was to be launched tomorrow, would the existing ammunition of the troops be able to support a large-scale battle? Among other things, the shells needed for artillery preparation before the attack are an astronomical figure, not counting the weapons and ammunition consumed by the troops in the attack. If the preparations are insufficient, the logistics force will face a severe test after the battle begins.