Red Moscow

  Chapter 2116 The battle is imminent

"Comrade Commander." Seeing that Rokossovsky was silent, Malinin asked tentatively, "What should we do with General Chuikov's two divisions? Should we keep them on standby, or rush back to the Magnusev landing ground for reinforcements?" ?”

   Rokossovsky turned to look at Ma Linin, and asked noncommittally: "How do you think we should arrange the whereabouts of these two guards?"

"Although there are various indications that there must be some kind of conspiracy brewing behind the German army's onslaught on the Magnusev landing site." Malinin said to Rokossovsky: "But the current situation of Chuikov's troops is critical, and it is entirely because they have been transferred away. Two Guards divisions were removed, which led to the weakening of the defense force of the landing site. Therefore, I think the most urgent task is to quickly restore the two Guards divisions to enrich the defense force of the Magnusev landing site."

"So, you mean to let the two divisions return to the establishment as soon as possible?" Rokossovsky asked: "But if the two divisions have just left their current positions, the enemy is in the Narew River Basin A new round of attack has been launched, so we don't have a reserve team that can be used?"

"Comrade Commander, I think you seem to have entered into a misunderstanding." Hearing what Rokossovsky said, Malinin said with a smile: "Have you forgotten that the troops in the Narew River Basin are not limited to Pakistani troops?" General Tov's 65th Army, and General Sokov's 48th Army, and General Popov's 70th Army. If the Germans did make a massive move there, I think they have enough troops to handle it enemy."

Rokossovsky raised his hand and slapped himself **** the forehead, and said annoyedly: "I'm confused, I'm really confused. I just thought of leaving these two guards as a reserve team, ready to go to reinforcements at any time." Troops in the Leif River Basin. But we forgot that we have three armies deployed in the area now, no, if you add the 47th Army, there will be four armies, which is enough to deal with any size of German attack."

  He paused for a moment, and told Ma Linin: "Chief of Staff, immediately call the two commanders of the Guards and inform them to return to the Magnusev landing site as soon as possible to strengthen the defense there."

  Of course, as Rokossovsky's chief of staff, Malinin had to notify Cuikov of the important event of the return of the two Guards divisions to the Magnusev landing site, so that the other party would know what to expect.

Chuikov was overjoyed when he learned that his troops were going to be reunited, and said repeatedly: "Great, this is really great." But within two minutes of being happy, he remembered that Rokossovsky had been late two days ago. The reason why the troops were not allowed to return to the establishment, he asked tentatively, "General Malinin, didn't Comrade Marshal say that these two Guards divisions should be left as a reserve team, and they are going to be dispatched in time when there is a problem in the Narew River Basin?" Going for reinforcements? Why did you suddenly change your mind?"

"General Chuikov, you are right. You stayed your troops two days ago and didn't let them go back to the army. The reason is that if the troops in the Narew River Basin are in danger, they can be sent for reinforcements." Ma Lining said: "But after repeated consideration, Comrade Marshal felt that you also needed the two Guards divisions there, so he changed his mind and asked them to return to the construction immediately."

"So that's the case." Chuikov was dubious about Malinin's far-fetched explanation, but he couldn't say anything more. Anyway, the return of the two Guards divisions would strengthen the defense of Magnusev's landing field: "I see. , Comrade Chief of Staff."

After putting down the phone, Malinin asked Rokossovsky: "Comrade Commander, I am thinking about one thing. Now General Batov has transferred all the troops withdrawn from the left bank to the Belovizh Forest. Their landing field launched an attack, with their remaining strength, can they stop it?"

"I think it's very embarrassing." Rokossovsky said truthfully: "Batov left two severely weakened infantry divisions on the left bank landing ground. If the German army launches a fierce attack on them, I am afraid that they will not be able to sustain much. long time."

   "Then what should I do?" Ma Linin asked tentatively: "How about I ask General Batov to transfer the troops back to the left bank?"

"I don't think this matter is urgent." Rokossovsky knew very well that Batov's troops were in the process of retreating. If they were rashly issued an order to terminate the retreat and return to their original station, the troops might appear. confusion.

   After all, similar things happened during the defense of Moscow. At that time, after Rokossovsky asked the Chief of General Staff Shaposhnikov for instructions, he withdrew his 16th Army troops to the Istria Reservoir area. However, when Zhukov, the commander of the Western Front, learned of this, he directly ordered someone to send a telegram to Rokossovsky, ordering him to lead the troops back to the original defense zone immediately.

Because many troops turned off their communication equipment during the transfer process, the army headquarters could not get in touch with them. Rokossovsky could only send a large number of communication troops to contact the troops whose communication was interrupted and ordered them to return. original station.

  But when these troops rushed back to the original defense zone, they found that the place had been occupied by the Germans. In order to fulfill the orders of their superiors, the tired troops launched an attack on the enemy. Most of the attacks failed, and even if there were any victories, they paid a very heavy price.

As Rokossovsky's chief of staff, Malinin naturally remembered this history. He nodded and said, "I see, Comrade Commander, let Batov's troops retreat to the Belovizh Forest first." It will not be too late to bring them back after the landing site on the left bank of the Narew River is in danger."

  The Germans knew about Batov's transfer of the troops that day, but they were worried that it was a conspiracy by the Soviet army, so they did not dare to act rashly. The German commander was not relieved until he received a report from scouts and learned that all the Russian troops withdrawing from the left bank had entered the Belovizh Forest more than 100 kilometers away.

The troops on the Pultusk landing field have become weak, and on the German positions opposite the Soviet army, large troops are quietly gathering, preparing to launch an attack by surprise at the right time, and drive all the Soviet troops in the landing field into Nare River.

In the middle of the night two days later, the German commander issued an attack order to several division commanders under him: In the early morning of the next day, after powerful artillery fire bombarded the area controlled by the Soviet army, all troops launched an attack under the cover of tanks. Within half a day, the area occupied by the Soviet army was recaptured.

  (end of this chapter)