In order to reassure everyone, Zhukov also specially emphasized: "Don't worry, when you attack the Modlin Fortress from the Puutusk landing site, the troops of the two commanders Chuikov and Korpakchi will also be in Magnushe The Hufu Landing Ground and the Puawi Landing Ground will operate simultaneously to contain the enemy's forces and ensure that you can successfully capture the fortress."
Finally, Zhukov said to Sokov: "Misha, when Batov and Popov's troops attack the Modlin Fortress, your troops must launch a timely attack on the German troops in the triangle area, taking advantage of the enemy's artillery fire. This is a favorable opportunity in this area to decisively eliminate the enemies here. How about it, are you confident?"
"Comrade Marshal." Hearing Zhukov ask himself, Sokov quickly stood up and said, "I will go all out to clear the German troops in the triangle area in a short time."
"Okay, now that the mission is clear, let's all go back to our respective units. In the early morning two days later, we launched an attack on the original target." Zhukov finally added: "Misha stays!"
"Comrade Marshal," Sokov knew very well that Zhukov left him alone and must have something important to say, so he asked respectfully: "Do you have any special instructions?"
"Misha, I left you here because I have something important to tell you." Zhukov said in a serious tone: "Rokossovsky has entered the hospital."
"What, the marshal is in the hospital?" This unexpected news really shocked Sokov. He asked in surprise: "I saw that he was fine some time ago. How could he suddenly be in the hospital? Where is he now? Hospitalization, the field hospital of the front army?”
"No." Zhukov shook his head and said, "He is hospitalized in Moscow, the same hospital where you were hospitalized last time."
"The Lubyanka's house?" Sokov asked tentatively.
"Yes, that's right there."
"He was fine a few days ago, why was he suddenly discharged from the hospital?" Sokov once again asked his concern.
"I think there are two reasons." Zhukov treated Sokov as his nephew, so he did not hide anything on the matter: "First, he was removed from the position of commander of the First Front Army. It must have caused a lot of blows to him; secondly, he has been busy since taking office and sat on planes for several hours, which resulted in the recurrence of old injuries."
After figuring out what was going on, Sokov was secretly relieved. It was just a recurrence of his old injury. It seemed to be nothing serious. He could just rest in the hospital for a while.
When Sokov returned to his headquarters, Ponedelin and Sidorin immediately came up to him and asked: "Comrade Commander, I wonder what combat missions Marshal Zhukov has assigned us."
"Same as last time, seize the triangle area controlled by the German army."
"What, seize the triangle area?!" Hearing what Sokov said, Sidorin couldn't help but widen his eyes in surprise: "The roads from the Luran landing site to the triangle area are all in the blockade area of German artillery fire, let us execute it Isn't this kind of combat mission equivalent to asking the commanders and soldiers to die?"
"Chief of Staff, don't be anxious." Ponedelin stopped Sidorin from continuing and asked Sokov, "What did Marshal Zhukov think about it?"
"When Marshal Rokossovsky was still serving as commander, he formulated a series of combat plans." Sokov said: "In this combat plan, almost all units received combat missions, starting from A large-scale roundabout operation was carried out in the north and south of Warsaw. The task of our group army is to stay in place and standby. Do you remember this?"
"Of course I remember." Ponejelin said helplessly: "Outside our landing site is the German artillery blockade area. We now have no ability to effectively suppress the German artillery fire during the attack."
"This time the troops of General Chuikov and General Kolpak will attack from the Magnushev Landing Ground and the Pulawi Landing Ground at the same time, and implement a large-depth roundabout operation from the south of Warsaw. And General Bartov's 65th Group Army and General Popov’s 70th Army will launch an attack from the Puutusk landing site and rush directly to the German Modlin Fortress.”
Hearing what Sokov said, Ponejelin's eyes suddenly shone: "Comrade Commander, I understand Marshal Zhukov's intention. As long as the 65th and 70th Group Armies launch an attack on the Modlin Fortress, then we will launch an attack on the Triangle Zone." During the attack, at least the artillery fire in the direction of Modlin Fortress will weaken or even disappear completely, thus reducing the losses we may suffer during the attack."
"Yes, that is indeed the case." Sokov nodded and said, "But don't forget that there are powerful German artillery deployed near the triangle area. As long as we launch an attack, they can still use powerful artillery. Artillery fire to intercept us."
"Comrade Commander, as long as there is no artillery fire from the Modlin Fortress, the remaining artillery firepower will not be enough to stop our attack on the triangle area." I learned that when the troops attack, they will basically not be attacked by Modlin. Under the artillery attack on the fortress, Ponejelin seemed confident: "I think it will only take half a day at most to capture the triangle area."
"Oh, Comrade Deputy Commander, I didn't expect you to be so confident in this battle." Ponejelin's attitude surprised Sokov. He jokingly said: "Otherwise, this attack will be a disaster." It’s up to you to take command.”
"No, no, no." After hearing what Sokov said, Ponedelin waved his hands in panic and said humbly: "Comrade Commander, you should take command. I believe your ability is far better than mine."
Sokov did not refuse and accepted the command of the battle without hesitation. But then he said to the two men with a straight face: "This is our last battle on the First Belarusian Front. We must show momentum."
"What, the last battle of the 1st Belarusian Front?" Sidorin keenly captured the key words in Sokov's words and asked tentatively: "So, as long as we win the triangle area, we will Transferred to the Second Front?"
"Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander, your guess is correct, it is indeed like this." On the way back, Sokov thought carefully about why Zhukov couldn't wait to fight this battle. Maybe it was because of the three elite armies. They will be transferred away, and the new army group added to them will have slightly lower combat effectiveness. If he does not launch an attack as soon as possible, with his weakened strength, it will be very difficult to accomplish the set combat objectives.
"I'm worried that something will happen." Sidorin said: "Maybe after this battle, Marshal Zhukov discovers the importance of our group army and is reluctant to let us leave. It is not impossible."
"I don't think so." After Sokov said this, he walked to the wall, picked up the explanation stick on the wall, pointed at the map and said to Ponedelin and Sidorin: "Look at the Second Front. Judging from the combat area currently designated for them, the enemy they face has a frontal width of more than 200 kilometers. On such a wide front, they only have two armies. Let alone attack, even if they are used for defense, they may not be able to defeat them. It’s very annoying.”
Ponedelin walked up to Sokov, looked up at the map on the wall, and tentatively asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, where do you think we will be deployed after joining the Second Front?"
Sokov tapped a position with his stick and said: "In such a wide front, it will definitely be divided into two areas. The terrain on the right wing is higher. If we want to attack, it will be a feint attack, which is very disadvantageous to us. . The terrain on the left wing is relatively flat, which is very conducive to the deployment of troops, so I think that once we are incorporated into the Second Front Army, we will participate in the first round of attacks as a unit on the left wing."
After listening to Sokov's words, Ponedelin was silent for a while, and then asked: "Then how should we attack?"
"Comrade Deputy Commander, look here." Sokov pointed to the river on the map and said to Ponedelin: "First, we must break through the enemy's Narew River defense line in the new area, and then complete the attack. The forced crossing of the Vistula River, because the river made a sharp turn from south to north, traversed the entire area attacked by the main group of the Second Front.
From the intelligence I know, the enemy has built strong fortifications on the west bank of the Vistula River. After breaking through the position on the Narew River, our army should advance forward as quickly as possible without giving the enemy a chance to retreat and occupy this area. From what I know about Marshal Rokossovsky, he will definitely also maintain a strong assault group on the left flank to assist the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front if necessary. "
After Sokov finished speaking, Ponedelin and Sidorin all nodded in agreement. They felt that Sokov's analysis was very reasonable, and the next war would most likely proceed according to Sokov's analysis.
"In tomorrow's attack, which unit do you plan to use as the main offensive?" Ponejelin asked.
Sokov thought for a while. His three Guards Divisions had been fighting the enemy non-stop since they were stationed at the Luran landing site, and they might not be able to be used in the attack. As for the 284th Infantry Division and the two infantry brigades, they also paid a lot of money to reinforce Batov some time ago. It is not appropriate to let them serve as the main attack.
"In my opinion, the 3rd Infantry Division and the 109th Infantry Division will serve as the first echelon to launch an attack on the triangle zone." Sokov said: "The 211th Infantry Division and the 122nd Infantry Brigade will serve as the second echelon."
In the early morning two days later, more than a thousand artillery pieces of various calibers launched a fierce bombardment at the German targets on the other side of the Narew River. For a time, the German position was filled with gunpowder smoke, and all that could be seen was the flashing fireball inside and the deafening sound of explosions.
Since today was the second time to attack the triangle area, Ponejelin and Sidorin were extremely nervous. They were worried that if something unexpected happened, the original attack plan might be cancelled. Both of them prayed secretly in their hearts, hoping that the offensive operation would start as scheduled.
The bombardment finally stopped after two hours.
Two red flares rose in the air, signaling the start of the attack.
Thousands of commanders and soldiers in the Putusk landing field, as soon as they saw the signal of the attack, they immediately shouted "Ula", rushed out of the trenches, and rushed towards the Modlin Fortress.
At the Luran landing site, Sokov was slow to give the troops an order to attack, so the commander of the 3rd Division called Sokov and said a little impatiently: "Comrade Commander, our army's artillery preparations are It has stopped, when will our troops start?"
Hearing that the commander of the 3rd Division was so anxious, Sokov was silent for a moment, and then ordered: "Comrade Division Commander, I agree with your troops to attack, but I remind you that after leaving your current starting position 500 meters, give me Stop, but shout as hard as you can, as if our army is actually attacking, do you understand?"
The commander of the 3rd Division heard what Sokov said. Although he didn't understand why the other party did this, he still bravely agreed: "Yes, Comrade Commander, I will definitely follow your order."
Watching Sokov put down the phone, Ponedelin asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, I don't understand why you gave such an order to the commander of the 3rd Division. It's really strange."
"Comrade Deputy Commander, I think you should understand that the Germans have figured out the pattern of our army's artillery fire. As soon as our artillery fire begins, they will retreat to the second line of defense. When our army's artillery fire stops and the troops begin to attack, , they will return to the first line of defense."
"You are right, Comrade Commander, it is indeed like this." After agreeing with Sokov's statement, Ponedelin still raised his own question: "But this is different from the order you just issued. What’s the relationship?”
"Of course it does matter." Sokov said: "I asked the commanders and fighters of the 3rd Division to shout loudly, just to make the Germans think that our army's large-scale offensive has begun, forcing them to return from the second line of defense. And wait After they enter the first line of defense, we use heavy artillery fire to eliminate them."
"Chief of Staff," Sokov called Sidorin and told him: "Call the artillery director and ask the artillery observers to closely observe the enemy's movements. Once they are found returning from the second line of defense to the first line of defense, , just give me a violent blast with artillery fire."
"Understood, Comrade Commander." Sidorin said with a smile, "I'll call the artillery director right away."
Ten minutes later, rumbles of artillery were heard outside. This was the group army's artillery firing at the enemy's position. The German officers and soldiers who had just returned from the second line of defense were covered by intensive artillery fire before they had time to enter their respective combat positions, and they were immediately knocked upside down.
After the shelling lasted for five minutes, Sokov raised his hand to check the time and said to Sidorin again: "Chief of Staff, the effect of the shelling has been achieved. Notify the first echelon troops to immediately charge into the enemy's position. We must capture the enemy’s position in the shortest possible time.”
