Red Moscow

After several anti-tank artillery regiments and tank brigades sent by the front arrived at the Narew River, Rokossovsky said to the director of the armored forces, Olior: "Comrade director of the armored forces, from now on, you and these armored forces will Under Bartov's command. Understand?"

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Although Orel's rank was about the same as that of Batov, since Rokossovsky personally issued the order, he naturally had to carry it out unconditionally. He turned to face Batov and said with a serious expression: "Please give the order, General Batov."

Batov was worried that if Olior accepted his command, the other party would have resistance. After all, when Rokossovsky first served as the commander of the 16th Army, Olior was his director of armored forces. Much older than myself. But now seeing that the other party readily agreed to accept his command, the boulder in his heart finally fell to the ground.

"General Orel," Batov said politely, "I will let my chief of staff, General Glebov, explain the specific combat deployment to you."

Glebov took Oliel to the side and began to assign combat tasks to him. Although it was a little far away, Rokossovsky could still hear some voices: "... There is an infantry battalion under each tank brigade. I think they can carry out an attack on the German army with the cooperation of tanks." Fight back..."

"Comrade Marshal." Batov suddenly said to Rokossovsky: "It's a pity that the weather today is bad and the air force cannot attack. Otherwise, no matter how many German tanks there are, we can defeat them."

Speaking of the weather, Rokossovsky's face was a bit ugly, because before he came here, he had asked the meteorological department that due to the bad weather, the air force would not be able to dispatch even tomorrow, let alone today. "Batov, before I came here, I asked the meteorological department that such bad weather will last for a few days, so you may not be able to receive air force support for a certain period of time. You have to be mentally prepared."

Although Batov knew for a long time that he might not be able to get support from the Air Force in the near future, he still felt a little disappointed when Rokossovsky said it himself. However, in front of Rokossovsky, he still wanted to swell his face and pretend to be fat: "Comrade Marshal, please rest assured that even without the support of the Air Force, we will definitely be able to defeat the enemy attacking the landing field."

When Orel was still gathering the two newly arrived anti-tank artillery regiments and three tank brigades, General Proshlyakov, the engineer of the front army, came to the river, and together with the chief engineer of the 65th Army, Build more pontoon bridges on the river so that the armored troops can cross the river smoothly.

Several new pontoon bridges soon appeared on the Narew River. It was with the help of these pontoon bridges that the armored troops commanded by Olior could quickly cross the Narew River and immediately launched an attack on the German army. fought back.

The German army did not expect so many Soviet tanks to appear, and was caught off guard. Soon their attack on the riverside position was contained, and even had to choose to retreat under the strong offensive of the new Soviet army. .

"Comrade Marshal," Batov couldn't wait to report to Rokossovsky as soon as he received the information: "With the armored troops entering the battle, the German attack on the pre-set position by the river has been contained. General Paul said he was regrouping for a counterattack against the Germans."

"Good job." Rokossovsky nodded when he learned that the attack organized by Orel had contained the German attack on the Pultusk landing field, and then called the director of the communications corps, and told the other party to say : "Comrade Director, please help me connect to the headquarters of the 48th Army Group, I have something to explain."

When the director of the communications corps arranged for the communications corps to connect the line, Terekin said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, I think the situation on the left bank can be improved. The pontoon bridge built by General Yakov also played a huge role."

"You're right, Comrade Military Commissar." Rokossovsky agreed with Kirov's statement: "If it weren't for the pontoon bridge built by Engineer Proshlyakov and the Chief Engineer of the 65th Army However, our armored forces have not yet been able to cross the Narew River in such a short period of time. Our army was able to keep the landing field on the left bank, and engineers from Proshlyakov and Olyol have contributed a lot.”

At this time, the director of the communications corps told Rokossovsky: "Comrade Marshal, the call to the headquarters of the 48th Army has been connected."

Rokossovsky took the microphone and said: "Misha, our counterattack on the left bank has achieved results. The enemy's attack has been contained, and even began to retreat in some areas. If you want to take any action, I will I feel like I can act."

"Comrade Marshal," Sokov has been paying attention to the news on the left bank. He is naturally happy to hear that a counterattack has begun in the direction of the Pultusk landing field, but he also knows that his attack just now has aroused the vigilance of the German army. There must be a considerable number of troops in front of Ponegelin, and if he launches an attack rashly, he may cause his own side to fall into a stalemate. It was out of this consideration that he said to Rokossovsky: "I think I have to wait a little longer before my troops can go into battle."

Rokossovsky called Sokov at this time, nothing more than to let the troops sent by the 48th Army to the left bank act together, so that the German army could not look at each other from head to tail, so as to speed up the counterattack. But he didn't expect his proposal to be rejected by Sokov. He asked with some displeasure: "Misha, what are you waiting for? After driving all the enemies out of the Pultusk landing field, then send the enemy Attack?"

"No, Comrade Marshal." Sokov heard the anger in Rokossovsky's tone, and explained to him: "In order to prevent us from approaching our friendly forces again, the German army deployed a large number of troops in front of us. If we attack at this moment, the battle will definitely fall into a stalemate, and then not only will we not be able to support our friendly forces, but our own troops may also suffer considerable losses."

In order to prevent Rokossovsky from getting angry, he continued: "Although I don't plan to let the troops attack at this moment, I can make them pretend to attack so that the enemy can't figure out what we are going to do. In order to contain their forces, this can also help the friendly forces relieve some pressure."

After hearing Sokov's words, Rokossovsky thought for a while and found what he said was very interesting, so he nodded, "Misha, your idea is right. The Germans have already suffered a loss. Don't dare to take any more risks. Even if you really stand still, as long as you put on the appearance of preparing to attack, the Germans must use a considerable number of troops to guard against you. In this way, the number of troops used to fight in other directions will be reduced. , creating favorable conditions for us to regain the entire landing field.”

In the next two days of fighting, the main force of the 65th Army, which returned to the left bank of the Narew River, with the support of armored forces, launched wave after wave of attacks on the enemy occupying the landing field, and finally drove all the enemies out. own landing field.

On the third day of the battle, as the weather improved, a large number of Soviet fighter planes appeared over the battlefield and carried out intensive bombing of the German artillery positions, armored forces and infantry on the ground, causing huge casualties to the German army.

Seeing that the area of ​​the Pultusk landing site was expanding little by little, Rokossovsky made a new decision. He called General Popov, commander of the 70th Army Group: "General Popov, The 65th Army fought against the Germans at the Puutusk landing site for three days. In addition to recovering the lost positions, it also expanded the area of ​​the landing site a lot. But it is regrettable that the casualties of the troops in the battle were a bit large, and it was very It is difficult to effectively defend such a large landing field, so I plan to transfer your 70th Army to expand this landing field together with Batov."

Hearing what Rokossovsky said, Popov couldn't help showing a smile on his face: "Comrade Marshal, we have been waiting for a day. You know, since the battle to attack the triangle was cancelled, the commanders and fighters are very worried. I feel uncomfortable, I feel that I finally got a chance to fight the Germans face to face, but somehow canceled it..."

"General Popov, it is not inexplicable that the plan to attack the triangle was canceled." Rokossovsky interrupted him when he heard Popov say this, and corrected him: "It was because of the enemy's artillery fire at that time." Blocking the advance path of the attacking troops, if we insist on attacking the enemy's positions firmly in the triangle area according to the combat opportunities, the attacking troops will suffer heavy losses."

Rokossovsky raised his hand to check the time, and continued: "Your troops must enter the Pultusk landing site before three o'clock in the afternoon. How about it, can it be done?"

Hearing what Rokossovsky said, Popov also hurriedly looked at the time, and found that there were less than two hours left before the deadline mentioned by the other party, and hurriedly replied: "Comrade Marshal, all troops are required to It may be a little problem to enter the left bank landing field before three o'clock, but I don't think there is any problem to station one or two divisions."

"Okay, then you can first station two divisions." Rokossovsky reminded the other party: "General Popov, let me remind you that every minute on the battlefield is precious. If it is because of action slow, and gave the Germans time to fortify their defenses, possibly increasing troop casualties."

"Comrade Marshal, I understand. I will let the troops go immediately." Popov said on the other end of the phone: "My troops will enter the position on the left bank of the Narew River in the shortest possible time."

As soon as the conversation with Popov ended here, Glebov called Rokossovsky over there: "Comrade Marshal, your number." Before Rokossovsky asked who was calling , he took the initiative to say, "It's Chief of Staff Ma Linin calling."

Rokossovsky knew very well that if there was nothing important, Malinin would not call the headquarters of the 65th Army Group to find him, so he quickly took the phone and asked, "Comrade Chief of Staff, what's the matter? "

"Comrade Commander." Malinin said on the phone: "Since the Pultusk landing site has been recaptured, I plan to formulate a new battle plan and let you know first."

"What do you think, tell me."

"My basic idea is: from the Pultusk landing site on the Narew River, the main assault will be carried out, and Warsaw will be detoured from the north; We will strike far and wide, and plan to concentrate our forces based on this idea."

Hearing what Malinin said, Rokossovsky remembered that yesterday, the 69th Army under the command of General Kolpakci successfully crossed the Vistula River and established a landing field in the Pulawi area on the left bank. He stared at the map for a while, and felt that Ma Linin's plan was very good. The north and south routes bypassed the heavily guarded Warsaw city by the German army, and detoured in depth from the two wings to the German defense. The situation for the German army will become difficult.

After Malinin finished his plan, he didn't hear Rokossovsky's words, thinking that the other party disagreed with him, and asked tentatively: "Comrade commander, what do you think of my new campaign plan?"

"Very good, very good." Rokossovsky looked away from the map, stood up straight and said, "I just looked at the map, your plan is very good, you can report it to the General Staff immediately, See what they mean."

"Well, I will immediately report the plan to Comrade Antonov, Chief of the General Staff, and see what he thinks of our plan."

Batov, who was standing not far away, vaguely heard some of the conversation between Rokossovsky and Malinin, but he knew it was a top secret, and he couldn't know too much before the battle plan was officially announced, so he intentionally disclosed The body moved sideways.

When Popov called to report to Rokossovsky, saying that the two infantry divisions under his command had successfully crossed the Narew River and entered the Puutusk landing site on the left bank.

"General Popov," Rokossovsky said on the phone, "immediately assign a commander to unify the forces of these two divisions, and under the guidance of friendly forces, launch an attack on the area occupied by the Germans." Attack. You know, General Batov's troops have been fighting the Germans on the landing field for three days, and the commanders and fighters have become exhausted, but your troops are a new force. I hope that they can join smash the last German resistance."

"Comrade Marshal, don't worry." Popov assured Rokossovsky: "I will order the troops to go into battle as soon as possible to help the friendly forces destroy the German resistance."

As soon as the phone here was put down, Malinin called. He excitedly said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Commander, good news, good news. The combat plan we reported has been approved by the General Staff. According to what I know about Antonov, he must have reported this matter to the Supreme Commander himself, and he will not inform me of the result until he has obtained formal permission."

"The General Staff has agreed to our battle plan, which is very good." Rokossovsky said into the microphone: "After the battle here in Batov comes to an end, we will call a meeting of the commanders of the various armies. Let's get involved in formulating the campaign plan and perfecting some details that we haven't considered."

"Comrade Commander." Malinin said: "The battle in the south of Warsaw is stabilizing. See if you can invite the two commanders, Chuikov and Kolpakci, first, and ask them to provide some opinions on this battle plan. ?”

"Just call Chuikov." Rokossovsky said, "I plan to go to the 69th Army in Kolpakci soon, so don't call him."