Red Moscow

After a day of fierce fighting, all the participating troops have achieved certain results, not only successfully crossing the Oder River, but also successively established landing sites of various sizes. Such a record not only satisfied Rokossovsky, but also Even the Supreme Commander himself, who was far away in Moscow, was overjoyed. The fact that the troops can successfully cross the Oder River means that the troops have taken another big step forward on the road to Berlin.

When the Supreme Command meeting was held that night, Stalin said excitedly: "Comrades, the Belarusian Second Front Army commanded by Rokossovsky successfully crossed the Oder River and established a landing field on the west bank of the river. One thing to celebrate. But one more exciting thing."

Among the people who came to the meeting, except for Antonov, Beria and a few people who knew the answer, the rest of them were at a loss. They stared at Stalin intently, hoping to hear what he would say next. information. Just listen to Stalin continue: "Zhukov personally called me and said that this afternoon, the troops of the 3rd Assault Army commanded by Admiral Kuznetsov had arrived on the outskirts of Berlin. artillery shelled individual areas of the city."

After Stalin finished speaking, the entire conference room fell into a brief silence. Except for a few insiders, the rest were in a state of shock. Although everyone said every day that they would go to Berlin to destroy the ruling center of the German Empire, when this day actually came, everyone still felt a little unreal.

"It's great, it's simply great." Marshal Voroshilov was the first to break the silence. The short president stood up and said excitedly: "Comrade Stalin, this is a day worthy of being recorded in history. We must immediately inform the whole army of this good news to boost the morale of the army so that we can have more troops rush to Berlin in a short time."

"Zhukov's troops were able to reach Berlin so quickly because of the support of the two Marshals Rokossovsky and Konev." Antonov got up and said, "Especially Marshal Rokossovsky. It was because they successfully contained the German Vistula Group north of Berlin and ensured the safety of Marshal Zhukov's flank that the troops of the First Belarusian Front reached the outskirts of Berlin so smoothly."

"For the troops that arrived in Berlin first, we will definitely award them." Stalin said: "I agree with Marshal Voroshilov's opinion, and immediately report this matter to the entire army to boost the morale of our army."

As soon as Stalin finished speaking, there was a knock on the door, and then the door was opened, and Poskrebyshev appeared at the door.

"What's the matter?" Stalin asked, looking at the other party.

"Comrade Stalin," Poskrebyshev replied, "a staff officer from the General Staff has come and said that there is an important battle report that needs to be handed over to Comrade Antonov immediately."

After figuring out that Poskrebyshev was looking for Antonov, Stalin shook his head at Antonov and motioned him to go to the door to get the battle report.

Antonov walked quickly to the door, whispered a few words with Poskrebyshev, and disappeared behind the door.

Everyone sitting at the conference table looked at the door. They eagerly wanted to know that it was already night, and what important military information would be uploaded to the General Staff. Could it be that the German army in Berlin started to counterattack?

After waiting for a few minutes, Antonov walked in from outside the house and closed the door behind him. Everyone stared at Antonov's face closely, trying to see from his face whether the information reported by the staff officer was good or bad. But unfortunately, Antonov didn't have any expression on his face, so it was impossible to guess whether he received good news or bad news.

When Antonov returned to his seat, Stalin asked, "Comrade Antonov, what news did your subordinates bring to you?"

"It's two battle reports, Comrade Stalin," Antonov replied.

Without waiting for Stalin to ask, he took the initiative to say: "Marshal Konev reported that his 3rd Tank Army has broken into the southern suburbs of Berlin, and the 4th Tank Army has also arrived in the southwestern suburbs of Berlin, ready to attack Berlin at any time." attack."

"Comrade Stalin, this is really great news." This time it was Marshal Timoshenko who spoke, and he said emotionally: "Two of the three front armies we advanced to Berlin have now reached Berlin. Outside the city, launch a final attack on the city at any time. I have a request, and I hope you can agree."

"What request?"

"I hope that as a representative of the headquarters, I can go to Marshal Zhukov's First Belarusian Front Army and witness the moment when our army occupied Berlin." His performance was mediocre, and the troops under his command failed repeatedly. Since the failure of the second Kharkov battle, he has been gradually marginalized, no longer has any real power, and has become a display in the Supreme Command. He knew that he was not qualified to command the troops anymore, but he didn't want to miss the moment when the troops captured Berlin. Therefore, he proposed to Stalin that he hoped to go to Zhukov's troops as a representative of the headquarters to witness the moment of the capture of Berlin.

As soon as Timoshenko finished speaking, Voroshilov also stood up and echoed: "Comrade Stalin, I hope that I, like Marshal Timoshenko, can go to Berlin to witness this great history as a representative of the headquarters. moment.” Voroshilov’s fate was worse than that of Timoshenko. Since he was dismissed by Stalin as the commander of the Leningrad Front, he could only hold idle positions in the high command, giving him the most important One task was to form an investigation team with Molotov during the Moscow Defense War and go to the Western Front Command to investigate the mistakes made by the then commander of the Front, General Konev.

Stalin understood the feelings of his two old subordinates very well, but he could not promise them. Because the one who sat on the bench with them in the High Command was Marshal Budyonny, who personally commanded the military parade in November 1941. This marshal has been the mascot of the High Command in recent years. The right to speak. If I agree with Voroshilov and Timoshenko to go to the Berlin front, then Budyonny makes the same request, will I agree?

It was precisely because of this consideration that Stalin shook his head and vetoed their requests: "Timoshenko and Voroshilov, now our troops have just arrived on the outskirts of Berlin, whether it is Zhukov or Konev, there are There's a lot of work to be done, and I think we'd better leave them alone."

Hearing what Stalin said, the faces of the two were full of disappointment, but they were helpless. If you want to blame, you can only blame yourself for your incompetence. Since the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, Stalin has entrusted the two of them with important tasks, and let them take charge of the southwestern and western troops successively. reverse the unfavorable situation. But their command on the battlefield was lackluster, and they even almost became prisoners of the German army in Kiev. It is reasonable for Stalin to no longer trust himself.

After Stalin rejected the request of the two, he turned his head and told Antonov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, after the meeting is over, no matter how late it is, you must send the Zhukov and Konev troops to Berlin. The news from the outskirts has reached all the troops. I hope that such good news can unite the hearts of the troops and boost morale. Do you understand?"

"I fully understand, Comrade Stalin." Antonov nodded and said, "I will arrange this matter as soon as the meeting is over."

Half an hour after the meeting, the news that Zhukov and Konev's troops had arrived in the suburbs of Berlin was conveyed to the headquarters of the Army of the Front.

Rokossovsky fell into deep thought when he heard the news. Although he had already guessed that Zhukov's troops would reach the outskirts of Berlin earlier than himself, when he really waited for this day to come, he was still very worried. depressed. He was even thinking that if he was the one who commanded the Belarusian First Front Army at this moment, then the honor of being the first to enter Berlin would fall on him. At this moment, my troops have just crossed the Oder River, and they are still far away from Berlin. Even if they fight well in the next few days, I am afraid there is no way to rush into Berlin ahead of Zhukov.

After reading the report, Bogolyubov was also full of disappointment. He said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Marshal, if the superiors do not allow us to participate in the East Prussian Battle and the East Pomeranian Battle, I think We still have a chance to get ahead of the 1st Front and reach the outskirts of Berlin."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, your thinking is too naive." Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Subbotin shook his head and said: "Even if we don't participate in these two battles, I am afraid that the first troops to reach the outskirts of Berlin , nor us."

Bogolyubov turned to look at Subbotin, and asked in amazement: "Comrade Military Commissar, why?"

"The reason is very simple," Su Bojing said with a wry smile, "according to my judgment, the Supreme Command intends to leave the honor of being the first to enter Berlin to the First Front Army. Order us to stop temporarily and let the troops of the First Front Army take a step ahead."

Regarding Subbotin's statement, Bogolyubov did not believe it at all: "No, how is this possible."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I think Comrade Military Commissar is right." At this time Rokossovsky said with a serious expression: "I heard that the First Front Army launched an attack on the Zelov Heights in front of Berlin on the 16th." Attack. As long as this high ground is captured, the road to Berlin will be flat, and the armored forces of the First Front Army will only need one day and night to reach Berlin. But who knows that Zhukov's offensive was frustrated and launched a high-intensity attack for several days The onslaught still failed to take the Zelov Heights. It is said that the Supreme Commander himself called Marshal Konev and asked him to allow Zhukov's troops to borrow from him to ensure that the First Front Army could reach Berlin first. .”

"Ah, there is such a thing?" Bogolyubov's face was full of doubts: "Comrade Marshal, what you said is not true, is it?"

Regarding Bogolyubov's doubts, Rokossovsky did not defend, but said vaguely: "I also heard that, as for whether it is true or not, I cannot tell for the time being."

"It's fake, it must be fake." Bogolyubov said eloquently: "The Germans have said that wherever Zhukov goes, our army will launch an attack and win victory. I know that the Zelov Heights , it is just a small hilly area to the east of Berlin, and it can't stop the powerful offensive of the First Front Army. Therefore, I think the so-called excuses may be false rumors."

"Comrade Marshal," Subbotin waited for Bogolyubov to finish speaking, and then asked Rokossovsky, "Should we immediately send the report from the superior to each group army?"

"I think so." Rokossovsky nodded and said, "Our army successfully crossed the Oder River today and established landing sites of various sizes on the west bank. It is a time when morale is high. Informing them of such good news will definitely boost the morale of our army."

When Bogolyubov sent the bulletin to the armies, Sokov was sleeping soundly on the camp bed in the headquarters. While sleeping soundly, I suddenly felt someone shaking me. I opened my eyes and saw that it was Chief of Staff Sidolin. He asked sleepily, "Chief of Staff, what's the matter?"

"Comrade Commander, good news, good news." Sidolin reported emotionally: "We have just received a report from the headquarters of the Front Army, saying that the troops of Marshal Zhukov and Marshal Konev have arrived in Berlin. The outskirts. Among them, the troops of the First Belarusian Front Army were still shelling the city of Berlin this afternoon."

Knowing that Zhukov and Konev's troops had arrived on the outskirts of Berlin, Sokov suddenly became sober. He sat up abruptly and asked Sidolin, "Chief of Staff, what you said is true. Is it?"

"Yes, it's true." Sidolin raised the telegram in his hand and said, "This is a telegram from the Front Army Command, and it cannot be faked."

Sokov snatched the telegram from Sidolin's hand, and carefully browsed the contents with the help of the dim light. After reading the above content, he confirmed that what Sidolin just said to himself was true, he nodded slowly, and said, "After four years, we have finally waited for this day." He raised his head and looked at Sidolin. Dorling asked, "Has the Military Commissar been notified?"

"I have sent for him," replied Sidolin, "I believe he will come here in a very short time."

Sure enough, not long after Sidolin finished speaking, Sokov heard a rush of footsteps, and then came Lunev's urgent voice: "Chief of Staff, Comrade Chief of Staff, where did you say the telegram is?" , show it to me quickly."