Red Moscow

  Chapter 2064

"Also," Sokov continued: "One mound is too small, you can add a few more. For safety reasons, steel plates should be installed in the mound to prevent any accidents that cause bullets to penetrate the mound. Cause unnecessary damage to the commanders and fighters behind. Do you understand?"

"clear."

After talking about the training, Sokov mentioned the performance of the 122nd Brigade in terms of mission execution: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, why did you perform so poorly in the search mission I assigned to you? The other brigades are two or three Hundreds of people, but you have less than a hundred people, what is going on?"

Hearing Sokov's criticism, Victor lowered his head and explained with a blushing face: "Comrade Commander, in fact, we have captured quite a few German officers and soldiers during our search. I dare not say too many. There are still four or five hundred people."

   Knowing that the other party had captured four or five hundred German soldiers, but the reported battle results included less than a hundred of them. Sokov realized the seriousness of the problem and quickly asked, "What's going on here?"

   "Comrade Commander, many of the German prisoners we captured were children aged 16 or 7. I couldn't bear to lay hands on them, so I ordered someone to let them go."

"Confused, Lieutenant Colonel Victor, you are so confused." Sokov said angrily after hearing this: "No matter how old the opponent is, as long as he wears a military uniform and holds a weapon on the battlefield, he is our enemy. Yes Enemies, there must be no kindness to speak of."

   "Comrade Commander," Victor explained again, "but they are all children..."

"Enough." Sokov interrupted the other party's words, and said to him with a straight face: "The 12th Armored Division of the German Army is called the 'Baby Division'-their uniforms have a logo of a glass milk bottle, To distinguish the adult army.

  Moustache was surprised to find that this baby division was more fanatical, brave and loyal than other troops, and it was a so-called excellent combat division. For this, Mustache praised the "baby teacher" greatly, and said: "If young soldiers can fight like adult soldiers, the enemy will lick their own wounds." '"

   After saying this, Sokov asked Victor with a sneer: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, do you have anything else to say now?"

   "No." Victor finally realized his mistake at this moment, and admitted his mistake with a blushing face: "I have nothing to say. In a word, this is all my fault. Please don't punish my subordinates."

"Lieutenant Colonel Victor, I know that you made such a decision out of kindness." However, Sokov did not continue to blame Victor, but said to him earnestly: "I hope you will be jailed." Keep in mind that kindness to the enemy is cruelty to oneself."

   "I remember, Comrade Commander." Victor nodded and said, "I will not make similar mistakes in the future."

   "Comrade Commander," at this moment a brigade staff officer ran over and said to Sokov, "Your call is from the Chief of Staff."

  Sokov learned that Sidolin was looking for him, and guessed that there must be something important, so he hurriedly followed the staff to the brigade headquarters, picked up the microphone on the table: "I am Sokov."

   "Comrade Commander, I just received an order from the Front Army Command." Sidolin said hurriedly on the phone: "They ordered us to immediately hand over the river-crossing equipment owned by the group army."

   "What, let us turn in the river-crossing equipment?" Sokov couldn't help being a little surprised when he heard such an order: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what is going on, why did the superior issue such an order?"

   "I don't know either." Sidolin said distressedly: "Since the superior asked us to hand over all the river-crossing equipment, it proves that a certain army may launch an operation to forcibly cross the Vistula River."

Sidolin’s words reminded Sokov that he remembered that shortly after the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising, Chuikov’s 8th Guards Army successfully crossed the Vistula River and established a ten-kilometer-wide front on the south side of Warsaw. At the five-kilometer-deep Magnusev landing site, the Front Army Command asked its troops to hand over the river-crossing equipment, which must be handed over to Cuikov's troops for use.

   After trying to understand this, Sokov said into the microphone: "Comrade Chief of Staff, immediately notify the troops with river-crossing equipment, and hand over the river-crossing equipment to the headquarters of the group army."

   "Do you really want to hand over all the river-crossing equipment?" Sidolin asked.

"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff, hand them over." Considering that he is now in the brigade headquarters of the 122nd Brigade, Sokov has some important matters that he cannot say in front of these subordinates, so he added a sentence: "I will as soon as possible Hurry back to headquarters."

   Half an hour later, when Sokov returned to the Army Group Headquarters, Sidolin reported to him: "I have notified the troops with the equipment for crossing the river and asked them to hand them over to the headquarters as soon as possible."

   "Comrade Commander." Ponegerin, who was silent at the side, suddenly asked, "Do you know why the superior asked us to hand over the river-crossing equipment?"

"The reason is very simple, Comrade Deputy Commander." Sokov replied with a smile: "There must be troops preparing to cross the Vistula River by force. Let us hand over the river crossing equipment in order to cross more troops at one time." to the other side of the river."

Ponegerin stared at the map in front of him, and said thoughtfully: "Now the closest to Warsaw is General Bogdanov's 2nd Tank Army, but because the general was injured and withdrew from the battle, the morale of the troops is inevitable. The ground will have an impact. I don’t think it is a wise choice for them to forcefully cross and storm Warsaw at this time.”

   "That's right, that's what I thought about it too." As soon as Ponegerin finished speaking, Sidolin added: "I think we should make a request to the Front Army Command to let our group army participate in the attack on Warsaw."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, your idea is good, but it is unrealistic." Sokov said with a smile: "Don't forget that the German army is taking their 2nd and 2nd platoons in order to recapture Brest." The remnants of the Ninth Army are assembled and ready to attack us. If we attack Warsaw, who will defend Brest?"

"However, under the current situation of the Second Tank Army, it is impossible to carry out crossing operations against the enemy." Sidolin raised his doubts: "After all, their commander, General Bogdanov, was injured not long ago. Morale and morale have had a detrimental effect."

Ponegelin frowned: "Comrade Commander, according to what you said, since the troops participating in the forced crossing were not the 2nd Tank Army and we were out of turn, which army would it be? I really don't understand. "

Sokov pointed to the map and said to the two: "Don't just focus on the east of Warsaw, you should pay attention to other directions. For example, in the south of Warsaw, the German army's defense is relatively weak. If we can Choosing to implement a breakthrough in this direction will be much easier than directly attacking Warsaw."

   According to what Sokov said, the two chose to cross the Vistula River south of Warsaw. After only watching for a moment, Sidolin exclaimed: "My God, is it true that the troops that carried out the forced crossing operation were General Chuikov's 8th Guards Army?"

"This possibility is very high." Sokov knew in his heart that the first force in history to forcefully cross the Vistula River was Chuikov's 8th Guards Army. So much so that they were unable to expand the area of ​​​​the landing field within a few months, let alone advance towards Warsaw.

But for the credibility of his "analysis", Sokov even made a suggestion to Sidolin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you haven't called your son for a long time? Anyway, there is nothing to do today. You might as well make a phone call."

  Sidorin naturally understood Sokov's original intention. It was true that he asked himself to make a phone call to spy on whether the 8th Guards Army had large-scale military operations. He thought for a while, and didn't intend to expose Sokov, but picked up the phone on the table and asked the communications soldier to help him connect to the headquarters of the 8th Guards Army.

   But regrettably, the communications soldier quickly told Sidolin: "I'm sorry, Comrade Chief of Staff, the other party's line is busy, so I can't get in at all."

  Sidorin put down the phone, shook his head at Sokov, and said with a wry smile, "Comrade Commander, I think your estimate is correct. The line at General Chuikov's headquarters is busy, so you can't get in at all."

  Pornegelin said from the side: "Why don't we try sending a telegram?"

   "Forget it," Sidolin waved his hand, rejecting Ponejielin's kindness: "I can't influence General Chuikov to command troops to fight because of my personal affairs."

   Several people were talking when the phone on the table rang. Sidolin picked up the microphone and listened for a moment, then stood at attention and said, "Comrade Marshal, we are collecting ships and preparing to hand them over to the Front Army Command in the shortest possible time."

   Sokov learned that Rokossovsky was calling, and quickly reached out to take the receiver from Sidolin: "Hello, Comrade Marshal, I am Sokov."

"Oh, it's Misha." Rokossovsky said lightly on the phone: "I called you because I considered that there are a lot of river crossing equipment stored in the Brest Fortress. Turn it in."

"We are already collecting as soon as possible." After Sukov briefly reported the situation, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Marshal, judging from the current situation, the progress of the Second Tank Army is not going well. I am afraid that this batch of river crossing equipment Shouldn't it be handed over to them?"

Hearing what Sokov said, Rokossovsky laughed dryly twice, and then asked: "Misha, I know you have a good brain, so you can analyze and analyze which troops we will use in what order?" What about forced immigration at the local level?"

Sokov heard what Rokossovsky said, and seemed to want to hear his own analysis. He pretended to ponder for a long time, and then said: "Comrade Marshal, before you called, I was talking to my deputy commander. Carry out map deduction with the chief of staff to study where it is suitable to carry out forced crossing."

   Hearing what Sokov said, Rokossovsky couldn't help but feel a little surprised, and then asked: "I want to know, what kind of conclusion did you draw?"

"We all agree that to cross the Vistula River, it is not necessary to choose the area where the city of Warsaw is located, which is the focus of the German army's defense. Even if we manage to cross the Vistula River successfully, the troops will suffer great casualties, thus losing the opportunity to expand the victory. ability." Sokov said pretendingly: "So the best place to cross the river should be south of Warsaw, which is an area where the German army's defense is relatively weak, and our forced crossing operation is easy to succeed."

  Sokov's words aroused Rokossovsky's great interest. He asked with great interest: "Then tell me, where should the river be crossed, and which army should carry it out?"

"If I were to command the river crossing operation, I would choose the area for crossing the river in the Magnusev area." Sokov had just vaccinated Rokossovsky, saying that his headquarters was studying the map. Therefore, even if some things are completely consistent with the current battle situation, they can be said to be the result of coincidence or analysis. "And from the analysis of the situation of the enemy and ourselves on the map, the most suitable unit to carry out the task of forced crossing is none other than General Chuikov's 8th Guards Army."

   After listening to Sokov's so-called analysis, Rokossovsky couldn't help taking a breath. He didn't expect Sokov's analysis to be so consistent with the ongoing war. He tentatively asked: "Misha, tell me, after General Chuikov's troops established a landing field on the left bank of the Vistula River, can they quickly expand their results?"

   Hearing what Rokossovsky said, Sokov immediately understood in his heart that what he said made the other party listen to him, otherwise it would be impossible to ask such an important question. After thinking for a while, he shook his head and said, "Comrade Marshal, I don't think the situation will be too optimistic even if the force is successful."

"why?"

"The successful crossing and the establishment of a landing field on the left bank of the Vistula River is only the first step of our operation." Sokov said: "But if General Chuikov's troops want to expand their results, they must transport a considerable number of tanks and artillery to the left bank area. But will the Germans allow our army to transport equipment across the river smoothly? They will definitely dispatch the air force to bomb the bridges erected by our army on the Vistula River indiscriminately, cutting off the distance between our army and the two banks. The connection between them. Once the troops on the left bank are not supplied, they will not last long, and they may even be driven into the Vistula River by the enemy."

   After Rokossovsky finished talking with Sokov, he stared at the map in front of him and fell into deep thought. He agrees with Sokov's statement. If the pontoon bridge cannot be erected on the Vistula River, and the technical equipment urgently needed by the troops on the left bank can be transported there, the troops crossing the river with only light weapons, let alone expanding the results of the war, may really be killed by the Germans. Possibility of driving into the Vistula.

   Seeing Rokossovsky lost in thought, Ma Linin asked tentatively, "Comrade Commander, what are you thinking?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Rokossovsky pointed to the map in front of him, and said to Malinin, "I think Misha is right. There is no big problem for Chuikov's troops to cross the Vistula River. How to transport the equipment is a big issue we have to consider.”

Sidolin asked back with some puzzlement: "Comrade commander, I don't quite understand what you mean. Since General Chuikov's troops can successfully complete the forced crossing operation, it is for him to transport the follow-up equipment and troops. It shouldn't be a big deal either."

  (end of this chapter)