After the phone call was connected, Sokov reported his thoughts to Rokossovsky and asked for his opinion: "Comrade Marshal, I wonder if we can get the troops of the 65th and 70th Group Armies to cooperate with our actions and put together the The Guards Cavalry was rescued?"
After listening to Sokov's request, Rokossovsky stared at the map in front of him and fell into deep thought. Sokov heard that Rokossovsky suddenly stopped talking, but the call had not been hung up. He guessed that the other party might be thinking about a problem, so he did not interrupt him, but quietly waited for the other party's reply.
A few minutes later, Rokossovsky's voice came from the receiver again: "Misha, are you still there?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal, I'm still here."
"Misha, I just thought about it carefully." Rokossovsky said: "Now that the 65th Army has just come out of the forest, it will take some time to complete the assembly of troops. And the 70th Army needs After the 65th Group Army stabilizes its front, they can continue to advance westward.
In other words, I can order them to also participate in the rescue of the Guards Cavalry, but in the early stages of the rescue operation, I am afraid that you will have to fight alone. I hope you can be mentally prepared. "
Sokov had long been mentally prepared for the situation Rokossovsky was talking about, so he said readily: "I understand, Comrade Marshal, even if only my troops participate in the rescue operation, I will do everything possible to There is a way to free the cavalry army."
"Misha, I just had a conversation with Marshal Zhukov, and he gave me a suggestion." Rokossovsky continued before hanging up the phone: "He thinks that you should attack Plaga and Shadel. It is obviously inappropriate to capture the German army."
"Ah, inappropriate?!" Sokov couldn't help but be stunned when he heard what Rokossovsky said, and then asked: "Why? Why did Marshal Zhukov say that?"
"Misha, please don't misunderstand." Rokossovsky heard from Sokov's tone that the other party might have misunderstood, and quickly explained to him: "Marshal Zhukov suggested that Lieutenant General Korpakchi The 69th Group Army is here to take over your existing defense area. Instead, move your entire army group north, form a joint force with the 65th and 70th Group Armies, and quickly move forward to the Narew River."
"Why?" Sokov asked in confusion: "Why do you want to go out to the Narew River?"
"We can feel from the characteristics of the enemy's actions that the enemy has realized that it has lost the battle in the Bug River area and in the direction of Warsaw, and strives to withdraw as many of its troops as possible to the Narew River area. The intelligence obtained by our reconnaissance and the confessions of prisoners also illustrate this point. The enemy is stepping up the construction of fortifications in the Narew River area.
In order to defeat the enemy's command plan, we considered moving the troops of the 48th, 65th and 70th Group Armies forward to the Narew River. The best way is for you to establish a rapid detachment composed of various arms, bypass the enemy's defensive support points, break into the enemy's rear, cut off the enemy's retreat road, seize the landing site on the west bank of the Narew River, and hold on to the main force. The arrival of troops. "
While Rokossovsky was describing the next battle plan, Sokov stared at the map in front of him and analyzed the pros and cons of the opponent's approach.
After ending the call, Sokov called Ponedelin and Sidorin over and repeated to them what Rokossovsky had said on the phone.
After listening to Sokov's story, Ponedelin nodded and said: "Marshal Zhukov has thought very carefully. If we do not let our army move north, but let the 69th Group Army pass through our defense zone and join forces with the 65th and 65th Army. If the 70th Army forms an assault group, it will definitely cause chaos. So the best way is for us to move north and the 69th Army to take over our defense."
"You are right, Comrade Deputy Commander." Sokov nodded and said, "I think so too. Moreover, the three armies form a new assault group and go forward to the Narew River, which can contain part of the German army. The strength of the army allowed them to shift the focus of defense from Warsaw and the south of Warsaw."
"That's right." Sidorin also pointed to the map and said: "Judging from the intelligence we have obtained so far, the 8th Guards Army at the Magnushev Landing Field spends most of its time fighting the Germans' crazy attacks. There is no ability to expand the landing field, let alone advance towards Warsaw and cooperate with the 2nd Tank Army and the Polish 1st Army to capture the city.”
When it came to Warsaw, Ponejelin couldn't help but ask a question that he had been thinking about for a long time: "Comrade Commander, I would like to ask, why is the Krajow Army unwilling to cooperate with us to jointly liberate Warsaw? You know , at the beginning of this year, they had released a signal of cooperation, how come only half a year later, their attitude suddenly made a 180-degree turn?"
Hearing Ponejelin ask about this matter, Sokov felt that there was nothing to do at this time, so he just chatted and began to tell the history he knew: "After Poland was fully occupied by Germany in 1939, it completely fell into a black world. Under terror. The Germans knew that Poland was a country that was difficult to control, and they were determined to destroy the Poles' determination to resist. To this end, the Gestapo made careful arrangements. Their goal was to destroy the Polish elite and eliminate their resistance. Will. A special operations team was set up with the task of arresting and executing those who had feelings of resistance and resistance to Germany.
After Hans Frank became the German Governor-General in Poland, he placed the military police and police forces in Poland under his command, and threw a large number of former Polish government officials into prison to strengthen his rule. Then he began to confiscate Polish official assets, took control of the treasury and banks, and announced the implementation of a supply system. Polish residents are required to deposit all their money in banks. Through this move, he controlled the flow of capital in Poland and achieved abnormal prosperity in Poland. Through this move, he also strengthened Germany's control over Poland.
The Jewish ghetto in Poland was also the idea of Hans Frank, who established the first Warsaw Jewish ghetto. According to his plan, the Jews must first be gathered, distinguished, classified and screened, those who are useful to the government are selected, and the rest are eliminated. When those valuable people have been drained of their value, they are then eliminated. This he calls a perfect and scientific solution.
In response to his policies, Poland was full of resistance. The Polish government-in-exile took the opportunity to establish a huge resistance organization, which was established based on the pre-war Polish domestic military system and intelligence network. The resistance organization not only has guerrillas, but also government agencies and the Legislative Assembly. This has resulted in a strange situation where "the day belongs to the Nazis and the night belongs to Poland." "
Sokov's narration made Ponedelin and Sidorin listen with interest. Sidorin even stood up, poured a cup of hot tea, and placed it in front of Sokov, asking him to moisten his throat before continuing.
Sokov nodded towards Sidorin, pretending to be grateful, and continued: "In 1942, according to the orders of the Polish government in exile, the integrated forces from all over Poland were integrated into the domestic army, which is what we only know. The Krajow Army. As an armed force behind enemy lines, the Krajow Army is very powerful. It not only possesses light weapons, but also some heavy weapons. In addition to digging for weapons and equipment buried before the war, the weapons can also be obtained from the black market. There are many ways to buy, make your own, and receive airdrop supplies from the Allies.
In 1944, the Polish Krajow Army already had more than 400,000 troops. As the German army suffered repeated defeats at this time, more troops were deployed to fight on the Eastern Front, so the control over Poland declined. Against this background, Poland began their own national restoration movement, and this plan itself contained great political significance.
At the beginning of this year, Poland carried out "Operation Storm", whose purpose was to regain Poland from the Germans. Their plan was to first launch a large-scale uprising in the direction of our army, and then launch a large-scale uprising in the old Soviet-Polish Attack the German army from the national border to the Vistula River, and finally launch an uprising across Poland to drive away the German army.
Strictly speaking, this plan is very clever, but when it was implemented, there was a problem that troubled the Polish government in exile, and that was whether our country would support them. After all, the hatred between our two countries is very deep, and it can be said that there is a gnashing of teeth. In addition, there is a Polish 1st Army in our 1st Belarusian Front Army, which has to make the Polish government in exile become cautious. "
Hearing this, Ponjelin suddenly realized: "Oh, so that's it. No wonder their attitudes at the beginning of the year and now are completely different."
"Corresponding to the Polish government in exile in London is the Polish National Liberation Committee, which was established with the help of our country. This committee was established by Boleslaw Beirut, one of the founders of the Polish Workers' Party. Since Poland Anti-Soviet sentiment is very high, especially among the Polish government-in-exile, distrust and hostility towards our country are very high. It can be said that in the eyes of the Polish government-in-exile, our country and the Polish National Liberation Committee are far more important than the Germans. Danger.
What makes the Polish government-in-exile even more anxious is the ongoing counterattack by our country, which cannot help but make the Polish government-in-exile very nervous. They believe that once our country enters Polish territory, they will completely lose control of the situation in Poland. A pro-Soviet government will emerge. This is exactly what the Polish government in exile and even the top Allied forces do not want to see.
In view of this, Operation Storm changed from the beginning. From the information obtained, we can see that the top priority in the implementation of this plan should be to get in touch with our army and obtain our material assistance, because it is impossible to airdrop too many materials. If Poland wants to engage in a frontal battle with the German army, it is necessary to obtain sufficient weapons and equipment.
At first, the Krajov army did the same. However, with the Polish National Liberation Committee established by the Polish Workers' Party and Boles Beirut, an agreement was signed with our country to use the 1919 Curzon Line as the new national border between the two countries and establish the future eastern border of the two countries. At the same time, after our army enters Poland, the highest power in the warring areas will be held by our army, and the rights in the liberated areas will be handed over to the Polish National Liberation Committee. The committee will create a new Polish government and reorganize Poland's domestic military forces.
This move undoubtedly greatly stimulated the Polish government-in-exile. They were worried that if the Krajow army did nothing, the Poles would all fall to the Soviet side. They hope to prevent our country from getting involved in Poland through their actions.
When Hitler's assassination broke out, the Polish government-in-exile believed that the time had come and decided to launch the Warsaw Uprising. At this time, our army was already in Poland. According to their plan, before our Soviet army arrived, they concentrated their forces to capture several palace buildings in Warsaw. At least before our army officially entered Warsaw, they announced that the Polish palace in exile had been restored. Administrative abilities.
The entire preparation and launch of the uprising was carried out secretly without telling our army. The Krajow Army was able to achieve certain results in the early stages of the uprising because they caught the Germans by surprise. However, it is extremely difficult for troops who are accustomed to fighting guerrilla warfare to engage in a frontal offensive battle with the German army, especially without foreign aid. "
"Then what do you think will be the final outcome of the Warsaw Uprising?" Ponejelin asked.
"Needless to say, it must have ended in failure." Sokov replied without hesitation.
As soon as he finished talking about Warsaw, Sidorin received a call from Ismailov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, my troops are ready to go and can go to the fortification area to carry out rescue at any time."
"Comrade Colonel," Sidorin was naturally very happy to learn that the 284th Infantry Division was ready to set off, but he still reminded the other party: "Since the German army can encircle the cavalry army in the fortification area, it means that they Our strength is not weak, so you must not underestimate the enemy."
After hearing what Sidorin said, Ismailov realized that the other party might want to give him some advice, and he quickly asked tentatively: "Comrade Chief of Staff, do you have any instructions for us?"
"I have just said that the German army is very powerful. It is difficult for you to complete the rescue operation with the strength of one division." Sidorin said into the microphone: "So after you arrive at the attack position, do not launch an attack hastily. Instead, we should wait for Colonel Liugekov's troops to arrive before taking offensive action together. Do you understand?"
"Understood, Comrade Chief of Staff." Ismailov said on the phone: "After we arrive at the designated position, we will not act rashly. We will wait until friendly forces also arrive before launching a unified offensive against the enemy."
"Very good, very good." After saying "very good" twice, Sidorin continued: "I don't know how many days this rescue operation will last, so after the battle begins, you can't put all the troops in at once. When fighting, you must leave a certain reserve team so that you can fight for a longer period of time."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, I would like to ask." Ismailov continued: "If our attack does not go smoothly, will the headquarters send us new reinforcements?"
Sidorin turned to look at Sokov, as if asking for his opinion. Sokov heard the conversation between Sidorin and Ismailov, and nodded slowly, indicating that Sidorin could inform Ismailov about the participation of the other two armies in the war.
Sidorin, who understood deeply, said into the microphone: "Comrade Colonel, you are not fighting alone. In at most one day, the troops of the 65th and 70th Group Army to the north of you will also join the battle one after another, and then you will have Enough strength to defeat the German troops besieging the cavalry corps."
