Malinin followed Rokossovsky's order and informed Chuikov to come to the headquarters for a meeting.
Unexpectedly, just when Chuikov was about to leave, the German army launched a new round of attack on the Magnushev landing site. Under this kind of Qing Dynasty, when going to the front army headquarters according to the order, it is obviously not shown. Chuikov had no choice but to call Ma Linin and give him a detailed report on the problems he encountered.
Fortunately, Malinin's notes were reasonable. When he learned that the enemy in the direction of the Magnushev landing site was attacking again, he changed his mind: "General Chuikov, since the Magnushev landing site is in danger, you should stay in command first. As for when to come to attend the military meeting, I will call you to inform you."
After Malinin had a general understanding of the situation at the Magnushev landing site, he ended the call with Chuikov. After a while, he called Rokossovsky again and reported to Rokossovsky that the Magnushev landing site was attacked by the Germans and Chuikov could not arrive at the front headquarters.
After Rokossovsky heard this, he couldn't help but feel a little surprised, and hurriedly asked: "Is the situation at the Magnushev landing site serious?" He was worried that the German army was fighting on two fronts at the same time, and he would have to deploy part of the air force. Go to support.
"Comrade Commander, you don't have to worry about this." Ma Linin said in a relaxed tone: "I asked General Chuikov that the German army probably dispatched a regiment of troops to attack the landing site. I believe it won't be long before the enemy's attack begins." It will be crushed by Chuikov and the others."
Knowing that there was nothing serious at the Magnushev landing site, Rokossovsky felt at ease and could concentrate on commanding the battle with peace of mind.
After another two days of fierce fighting, the German troops who attacked the Puutusk landing site lost both their wives and their troops. Not only were they unable to seize the landing site from the Soviet army, they also lost a large defense area, which expanded the area of the landing site. times.
The German army, which had suffered repeated defeats, finally stopped.
Seeing that the German army was no longer attacking, Rokossovsky could finally confidently and boldly summon the commanders, chiefs of staff and military commissars of each group army to his headquarters for a meeting.
Sokov happened to be one of them, but his expression today seemed very abnormal, as if he had something on his mind. Seeing this, Ponejelin asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, what's on your mind? You haven't spoken since you got in the car."
Naturally, Sokov could not tell Ponijelin what he was worried about. He could only prevaricate and say: "I am thinking, if Comrade Marshal orders us to attack the triangle area again, how should we deal with the German artillery fire from all directions?"
Ponejelin thought that Sokov was really thinking about this problem, and said awkwardly: "Yes, this is a difficult problem. The reason why the last planned attack was canceled was that the German artillery was too powerful, and their Artillery fire can cover our entire attack route. If we had forced the attack at that time, I am afraid the casualties of the troops would have been extremely heavy."
Sidorin, who was living in the co-pilot's seat, turned around and asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, if our superiors really order us to attack the triangle area, what should we do?"
"What should we do? What else can we do?" Sokov said angrily: "We must obey the orders of our superiors. If we are really ordered to attack the triangle area, then no matter what the price, we must attack bravely. Understand. ?"
An embarrassed expression appeared on Sidorin's face: "I understand, Comrade Commander. But in this way, many of our troops may be disabled."
"There is nothing we can do about it." Ponyjelin said with a straight face: "You and I have been in the army for a long time. We should understand that orders issued by superiors, whether they are correct or wrong, must be followed. Execution unconditionally.”
When they arrived at the headquarters, the three of them found a place to sit down.
As soon as he sat down, Sokov felt someone tap his shoulder. He turned around and saw that it was Chuikov. He quickly stood up and greeted: "General Chuikov, you are here too."
"Yes." Chuikov nodded and said, "Malinen originally called me two days ago and asked me to come to the front headquarters. It happened to be that when I was about to set off, the German army launched an attack on the landing site. . I have no choice but to stay and command the troops in combat. How is the situation there?"
"Still the same as before." Sokov said: "Our path forward is within the artillery strike range of the Modlin Fortress, and we are temporarily unable to advance deeply into the German defenses."
"General Sokov," Chuikov sat down next to Sokov and began to analyze the situation for him: "I think even if Comrade Marshal launches a new attack, your army group may not participate in the first round of attacks."
"Why?" As soon as Chuikov finished speaking, Sidorin interjected and asked: "Why won't we participate in the first round of attack?"
Looking at his former chief of operations, Chuikov showed a smile on his face: "The reason is very simple. The way you are moving forward is covered by German artillery fire. If you are ordered to attack now, it will be like asking you to die. So according to my judgment, the first round of attack should be to clear the German artillery fire on your way forward."
"It makes sense, it makes sense." After hearing what Chuikov said, Sidorin nodded vigorously and agreed: "Comrade Commander, what you said is very reasonable. It is completely necessary to clear the German artillery fire on our way forward. .”
Unexpectedly, at this moment, Ponejelin poured cold water on the two of them: "But the defense of Modlin Fortress is strong, and it may not be easy to take it down."
"If you attack from General Bartov's Puutusk landing site, you can avoid the powerful German artillery fire and rush directly to the Modlin Fortress." Chuikov continued: "If the fortress is captured, there will be obstacles on the way to your attack. That’s gone.”
While he was talking, Rokossovsky, Malinin and others came in from outside. Chuikov quickly stood up and said to Sokov: "General Sokov, don't worry, I believe you will get yours soon." Wanted answers.”
Before Chuikov returned to his position, he said to Sidorin: "Old man, your son has performed well recently and has become the deputy company commander."
"Commander, deputy commander, you all heard it, right?" Chuikov's simple words brought tears to Sidorin's eyes: "My son has become the deputy company commander."
Ponejelin had never met Sidorin's son, so he naturally didn't have a strong reaction. During the Battle of Stalingrad, Sokov had many dealings with this little guy who served as Chuikov's communications trooper. When he heard that he had become the deputy company commander, he couldn't help but say to Sidorin with emotion: " Chief of Staff, I never expected that your son would already be the deputy company commander just after he turned 18. Maybe by the time we reach Berlin, he will already be the battalion commander."
The meeting began, and Malinin read out the battle plan drawn up by him and approved by the General Staff: "We plan to use General Batov's 65th Army and General Popov's 70th Army to launch an offensive from Pula on the Narew River. The main assault was carried out at the Utusk Landing Ground, bypassing Warsaw from the north; while the 8th Guards Army commanded by General Chuikov and the 69th Army of General Kolpacz attacked from the Magnushev and Powavy Landing Grounds respectively, from Warsaw. To carry out a far-reaching assault from the south towards Poznan..."
After Ma Lining read out the battle plan, he closed the folder and placed it on the table. He looked at everyone and asked, "Do you have any questions?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," as soon as Malinen finished speaking, Popov stood up and asked curiously: "Why is there no mention of Warsaw in our new battle plan? Are we planning to abandon this city?" "
"You are right, General Popov." Before Malinin could answer, Telekin rushed to say: "Under the current circumstances, choosing to abandon Warsaw may be the best choice for us. "
Seeing everyone looking at him in surprise, Telekin continued: "According to the latest information we have, the Germans have moved away all the residents in Warsaw and have also planted explosives in the buildings in the city. Carry out blasting. Even if we attack the city at this moment, all we will get is the ruins of a city without any residents."
Telekin's words shocked everyone. No one expected that the Germans would be so frantic. Not only did they move all the residents in the city, they even carried out large-scale blasting of buildings in the city to turn the city into a desert. ruins.
Malinen said: "There are no residents in Warsaw today. The entire city is being destroyed by the German army and is turning into ruins little by little. Not to mention that we have to pay huge sacrifices to capture this city. Even if we capture the city, a city will become a ruin." What meaning does an empty city in ruins mean to us?"
Regarding Ma Linin's statement, the commanders sitting below began to whisper. They felt that if the city really turned into a ruined city without people, as Ma Linin said, then it was irrelevant whether to send troops to occupy the city. .
"Okay, let's get down to business." Ma Lining waited for everyone to discuss for a while, then continued: "Does anyone have any questions? You can ask them now."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Popov stood up again and asked, "I wonder if we can get air cover provided by the Air Force when we attack?"
"It's hard to say, General Popov." Malinin looked at Popov and said: "For example, during the battle at the Puutusk landing site, due to the bad weather for two consecutive days, the Air Force was unable to provide air force for us at all. Cover, so that our infantry can only attack the enemy under the guidance of tanks. But I assure you that our air force can provide air support to ground forces at any time as long as weather conditions permit."
Commanders kept asking various questions, and Ma Lining answered them one by one.
Rokossovsky, who was sitting in the main seat, was surprised to find that Sokov had never said a word from the meeting until now. He couldn't help but wonder: What happened to Misha? Why didn't he say a word? You know, in the past at such military meetings, he was always able to express many different views of his own.
Seeing that Rokossovsky had been staring here, Ponedelin touched Sokov with his arm and whispered: "Comrade Commander, look, Comrade Marshal seems to have been looking at you."
Sokov nodded slightly and said calmly: "I know."
His reaction also surprised Ponijelin: What happened to Comrade Commander today? He looked distracted when he arrived in the car, and now he is also absent-minded in the meeting. It seems that he must have something on his mind that he doesn't know about.
Until Malinen announced the breakup of the meeting, Sokov still didn't say a word. When he heard that the meeting was over, he immediately stood up and prepared to walk outside. Unexpectedly, he took just two steps, but Rokossovsky stopped him: "Misha, please stay for a moment."
When Ponedelin and Sidorin passed by Sokov, they whispered to him: "Commander, we will wait for you in the car. After Comrade Marshal finishes speaking to you, you can come to us."
After all the commanders who came to the meeting left, Rokossovsky waved to Sokov and said: "Misha, come to me. I want to ask what happened to you today and why you were there. Not a word was said in the meeting?”
Faced with Rokossovsky's inquiry, Sokov didn't know how to answer. Although the combat plan at today's meeting is quite complete, how it will be implemented next has nothing to do with Rokossovsky, because he will soon be transferred to the Second Belarusian Front by Stalin, and his vacated position Replaced by Zhukov.
It is because of knowing this history that Sokov has been in a depressed state since he left his headquarters. But he couldn't say this kind of thing to anyone, otherwise he would be regarded as crazy by others.
Seeing that Rokossovsky asked so directly, Sokov knew that it was impossible to just prevaricate. He had to find other excuses in order to get through. After quickly reorganizing the vocabulary in his mind, he said, "Comrade Marshal, I have been having a strange dream these past two days."
"What did you dream about?"
"I dreamed that you were transferred away." Sokov said: "You were transferred to other fronts to command troops in combat."
Hearing what Sokov said, Rokossovsky couldn't help laughing. He turned to Malinin and said: "Chief of Staff, I really didn't realize that Misha is also a superstitious person. He actually believes that he saw something in his dream. thing."
"Yes, yes," Ma Lining nodded in agreement: "It is a great event to change a front commander. Even if the matter is hidden, we can hear some rumors in advance. But so far, we have But I didn't get any relevant news. General Sokov, I think you are too neurotic."
Seeing that Malinin and Rokossovsky did not believe him, Sokov was not upset. After all, whatever he saw in his dream was too fantasy, and it was reasonable for them not to believe what he said.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, the phone on the table rang. Malinin only glanced at it and said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Commander, this is a high-frequency phone, maybe an outside line." After saying that, he picked up the phone and put it to his ear, "I am Malinin!"
After a moment, a shocked expression appeared on his face, and then he handed the microphone to Rokossovsky and whispered: "Comrade Commander, this is a call from the Supreme Commander himself."
Hearing that the call was from Stalin, Rokossovsky had a surprised expression on his face. He glanced at Sokov and then took the phone: "Hello, Comrade Stalin, this is Rokossov." Fsky.”
