Red Moscow

  Chapter 2074 Going deep into danger

  In the next few days, Cuikov's troops expanded the area of ​​the Magnusev landing field and deployed six infantry divisions in the landing field to resist the crazy German attack.

   On the surface, it seems that the strength of the Magnusev landing field has increased, but because the pontoon bridge just erected was blown up again by the Germans, the supply of troops on the left bank has become a big problem. If the ammunition and materials consumed cannot be replenished in time, these troops will soon be in a situation of running out of ammunition and food.

  The existence of the Magnusev landing field posed a serious threat to the German Warsaw Group from the south. In order to eliminate this threat, the German army put all the main force that could be mobilized in the left bank area into the battle for the Magnusev landing site.

  After the efforts of the two engineering units of the Front Army and the Group Army, the pontoon bridge was finally erected on the Vistula River again, and artillery and ammunition began to pass through the bridge. However, the German bomber formation soon appeared over the pontoon bridge and bombed the pontoon bridge violently.

  A leading German bomber dived towards the convoy on the pontoon bridge with a scream. The window glass of a truck was shattered by bullets. Before the driver recovered his senses, he was smashed into a gourd of blood by the dense bullets. The soldiers escorting the car hurriedly raised their guns and fired into the air, but just two rifles could pose no threat to the German bombers. The second enemy plane then swooped down, and its machine guns spit out flames, hitting the car from the front to the rear, setting the car on fire. The soldiers escorting the car didn't even have a chance to jump out of the car, so they turned into burning men.

  As soon as the car caught fire on the pontoon bridge, the enemy planes behind immediately found the target of the attack. They used two aircraft formations to dive in turn, and launched a frenzied massacre on the convoy on the pontoon bridge. In just a few minutes, the pontoon bridge was full of damaged vehicles and sacrificed soldiers. The blood of the martyrs stained the Vistula River red.

  Seeing that the convoy on the pontoon bridge suffered such heavy casualties, the officers and soldiers of the Polish anti-aircraft artillery division on the riverside were anxious. They shot desperately into the air, trying to shoot down the incoming German bombers.

  Several German bombers turned around and came towards the air defense positions on the shore. They swooped down from a high place and dropped aerial bombs one by one in the air defense positions. The exploding aerial bombs blew up the cannons and threw the remains of the anti-aircraft artillery high up, engulfing them in a mist of mud and smoke.

  Although the anti-aircraft positions were bombed by the German army, the anti-aircraft artillerymen suffered heavy casualties, but the living anti-aircraft artillerymen still stuck to their posts and fired at the enemy planes in the air.

  The artillery fire of the Polish anti-aircraft artillery division attracted some German bombers, but because the pontoon bridge was full of burning trucks, it was obviously unrealistic for the convoy to continue crossing the river. After receiving the report, Chuikov immediately issued an order to the commander of the tank brigade by the river, asking him to immediately send two tanks to the pontoon bridge to clean up the burning trucks and make way for the vehicles behind.

   Commands are simple, but execution is not so easy. Although a large number of trucks on the floating bridge were bombed by German bombers, many trucks were still intact. After the tanks boarded the floating bridge, they cleaned up some of the burning trucks. In order to let the intact trucks leave the bridge first, they had to Back to the right bank first to give way to the truck.

  The purpose of the German bomber formation was to destroy the Soviet pontoon bridge on the Vistula River. The slow movement of Soviet tanks to clear the destroyed vehicles on the bridge now undoubtedly provided targets for the bombers. After just five minutes, the tank that had not had time to retreat from the pontoon was directly hit by the aerial bomb, and sank to the bottom of the water along with the broken pontoon fragments.

   At the same time, the German army stepped up its attack on the landing field. The 19th Armored Division carried out an assault along the Pilica River, and the Goring Armored Division carried out an assault along the Radomka River. In the middle of these two units were the 17th and 45th Infantry Divisions.

   Their endless attacks put tremendous pressure on the commanders and fighters of the 4th Guards Army. Facing the enemy's powerful offensive, the Soviet troops lacking anti-tank weapons had to abandon some occupied villages and retreat towards the Vistula River.

  The pontoon bridge on the Vistula River was blown up, and the emotions of the commanders and fighters at the landing site on the left bank will inevitably be affected. Chief of Staff Beleyavsky asked Chuikov: "Comrade Commander, due to the bombing of the German army, our contact with the left bank has been interrupted again. The morale of the commanders and fighters standing on the landing site has been affected to some extent. What should we do next? "

Chuikov thought for a while and replied: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I have a bold idea. We should move the headquarters of the Army Group to the left bank of the Vistula River. In this way, the commanders and fighters at the landing site saw that we had also reached the left bank. , It is very helpful to boost morale and unite the army."

   "What, move the Army Group Command to the left bank of the Vistula River?" Chuikov's idea startled Bereevsky, and he quickly reminded Chuikov: "Comrade Commander, will it be too dangerous?"

"Soldiers fighting to the death with the enemy at the landing site are not more dangerous than us." Chuikov said in an unquestionable tone: "This matter is settled. After dark, the members of the headquarters will cross the river by boat. In the woods to the southwest, establish our new headquarters."

   "Comrade Commander, this matter is very important. Would you like to ask Comrade Marshal for instructions?" Belevsky asked cautiously: "Otherwise, once he blames us for making claims without authorization, we will be in trouble."

   When Chuikov heard that what Beleyavsky said made sense, he nodded and agreed: "Okay, I will call Comrade Marshal myself and tell him my decision."

   Rokossovsky was surprised to learn that Chuikov planned to move the headquarters to the left bank of the Vistula River: "Comrade Chuikov, why did you think of moving the headquarters to the left bank of the Vistula River?"

"Comrade Marshal, the reason is very simple." Chuikov said with a smile: "You said before that when the commander appears in the soldiers' field of vision during the battle, it will increase their courage and enable them to fight the enemy more bravely. In doing so, I have faithfully carried out your orders."

   Rokossovsky thought about it carefully, and he really said this before. At the same time, he also ordered the commanders of the troops not to wear field ranks with camouflage colors, so that it would not be easy for the soldiers to see who the commander was at a glance, which would lead to confusion when the battle was lost due to the loss of unified command. middle.

"Okay, Comrade Chuikov." Rokossovsky thought for a while, and agreed to Chuikov's request: "You can move the headquarters to the left bank of the Vistula River, but you must pay attention to your own safety. If the situation is not right, immediately retreat to the right bank. Understand?"

   "I fully understand, Comrade Marshal."

But when Rokossovsky put down the phone, Malinin, who heard the conversation between the two, came over and asked worriedly: "Comrade Commander, General Chuikov moved his army headquarters to the left bank of the Vistula River. Wouldn't it be too risky?"

"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff, it is indeed a bit too risky to move the headquarters of the Army Group to the left bank at this moment." Rokossovsky sighed and said: "But Chuikov's consideration is also correct, because the German air force is closely blocking the If we don't allow our army to build a pontoon bridge on the Vistula River, then the troops standing on the landing ground at this moment will encounter some difficulties. If Chuikov still stays in the right bank area at this moment, it will inevitably have a negative impact on the morale and morale of the troops .

   But if he goes to the left bank, as long as the commanders and fighters on the landing field understand that their commander is in danger just like them, then the morale of the troops will be improved and the commanders and fighters will be more brave in battle. "

"What a pity." Malinin said with a look of regret: "Our air force is now in Warsaw to provide air support for the 2nd Tank Army and the 1st Polish Army, and we cannot deploy forces to support Chuikov, otherwise he would not have to take risks on the left bank. .”

Speaking of the Polish 1st Army, Rokossowski thought of the Polish anti-aircraft artillery division that provided anti-aircraft firepower for Chuikov's troops on the banks of the Vistula River, and quickly asked Malinin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I heard that the Polish anti-aircraft artillery division The gunner paid a lot of sacrifices in today's battle, is this true?"

Ma Linin nodded, and said in a positive tone: "Two of the anti-aircraft artillery regiments suffered more than two-thirds of the casualties, and the other anti-aircraft artillery regiment also suffered one-half of the casualties. In a word, the Polish anti-aircraft divisions in today's air defense During the battle, it was already disabled by the German air force."

   "Comrade Chief of Staff, you immediately contact General Bellinger to inform him of the matter, and at the same time express condolences to those Polish soldiers who died and were injured."

After Malinen called the Polish 1st Army Command, Bellinger, who received the telegram, apologized and said: "General Bellinger, the Polish Antiaircraft Artillery Division, in today's battle, in order to protect the pontoon bridge on the Vistula River, the enemy Huge casualties were incurred in the bombing. On behalf of the Marshal and I, I would like to express condolences to the commanders and fighters of the anti-aircraft artillery division who died and were injured."

   "Comrade Chief of Staff," Bellinger knew about this a long time ago, and he was considering whether he should call Rokossovsky and ask if the anti-aircraft artillery division could be withdrawn for rest. But now, after hearing Ma Lining's words, I immediately changed my mind: "In order to defend our great motherland, even if we pay a high price, we still think it is worth it. Don't worry, even if the entire anti-aircraft artillery division is wiped out, we will not We will do our best to ensure the air defense of the Vistula."

  Malinin put down the phone, relayed what Bellinger said to Rokossovsky, and asked: "Comrade Commander, do you think the Polish anti-aircraft artillery division should be withdrawn for a period of time?"

Rokossowski thought for a while, then shook his head and said, "I don't think it's necessary. As the pontoon bridge on the Vistula River was blown up, the Polish antiaircraft artillery division will not have many chances to participate in the battle. Let them continue to fight." Staying where they are now is tantamount to giving them a rest."

   "But the antiaircraft artillery division suffered such heavy casualties that it was crippled." Ma Linin cautiously suggested to Rokossovsky: "Look, whether we can find a way to supplement them."

"There is no problem with the anti-aircraft guns." Rokossovsky said to Malinin: "As for the soldiers, they need to figure out their own way. After all, they are the Polish army. Putting our people in their troops will make people feel that there is no problem. General Bellinger is superstitious. He thinks that we are doing this to empty his commanders. In order to avoid such misunderstandings, let him figure out how to replenish the troops.”

   "Okay, Comrade Commander, then do as you say." Ma Linin said: "I will replenish the lost anti-aircraft guns for the anti-aircraft artillery division as soon as possible. As for the soldiers, let them continue to think of a way."

  Chuikov took the members of the Army Group Command, crossed the Vistula River in a small boat under the cover of night, and came to the left bank area. Glazunov, the commander of the 4th Guards Army, personally led people to greet him on the shore. When he saw Chuikov appearing in front of him, he complained: "Comrade Commander, the situation on the left bank is so bad, why do you still send the Commander?" The Ministry moved here too?"

After hearing this, Chuikov said with a smile: "General Glazunov, I am worried that if the relationship between the landing site and the right bank is interrupted, it will have a negative impact on the morale and morale of the defenders on the landing site. I came here specially to boost morale. "

   Facing Chuikov's statement, General Glazunov was speechless. After he laughed dryly, he said to Cuikov: "Comrade Commander, I have chosen a forest in the southwest of the landing site as the new headquarters of the Army Group. The house and positions have been built, and you can move in directly. .”

"This is really great, General Glazunov." Chuikov said to Glazunov with a smile: "I was worried at first, thinking that after the members of the headquarters arrived on the left bank, they would dig trenches and build houses in the dark, but they didn't." Thinking of you, you have already prepared for us."

"Comrade Commander," Glazunov continued, "I have transferred two regiments from the 47th Guards Division and deployed them near the new headquarters to serve as your guards. The strength is enough to withstand three or four hours, enough to support until I lead the main force to rush over for reinforcements."

"General Glazunov, thank you for your kindness." Cuikov said gratefully: "The combat effectiveness of the 47th Guards Division is the strongest in the 4th Guards Army. I am very grateful to have them in charge of the security of the headquarters." rest assured."

   After Glazunov sent Chuikov and others to the new station of the Army Group Headquarters, he said that there was still something to do in the army, so he left.

  As soon as General Glazunov left, Bereevsky urged the communications soldiers to seize the time to set up antennas and pull telephone lines, hoping to restore the command function of the headquarters in the shortest possible time.

   As soon as the telephone line was laid, Chuikov received a call from Rokossovsky: "Comrade Chuikov, how is it going? How is your new headquarters going?"

"The establishment has been basically completed." Chuikov continued without waiting for Rokossovsky to ask, "It was General Glazunov, the commander of the 4th Guards Army, who learned that we were going to establish a new headquarters on the left bank. After that, we immediately organized manpower to build houses and build fortifications at our preset headquarters. When we crossed the river and reached the left bank, all these things were ready, and we only needed to set up antennas and lay telephone lines to officially exercise the command of the group army. Department's responsibility."

  (end of this chapter)