"How to transport it across, my chief of staff?" Rokossovsky stared at the map in front of him and said: "The width of the Vistula River is nearly one kilometer, and building a bridge will be a very arduous task. Once the Germans discover
If a bridge appears on the Vistula River, aircraft bombing and artillery bombardment will definitely be used to cut off the exercises on both sides of the river. In this way, the troops at the landing site on the left bank may become a lone army, and in the end they will either be annihilated by the Germans or be killed by the Germans.
Rush into the Vistula."
Hearing what Rokossovsky said, Malinin had to think carefully: "That's right. To continuously provide personnel, equipment and material resources to the left bank, it is not enough to rely on ships alone. Ships transport personnel,
There is no big problem with supplies or some small-caliber artillery, but tanks cannot be transported there."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, I seem to have heard that the German army has an underwater tank." Rokossovsky said thoughtfully: "It was originally intended for use in the attack on Britain, but it was later transferred to East Asia.
Line, after the German attack on the Brest Fortress was frustrated, these underwater tanks crossed the Bug River from underwater and rushed into the fortress..."
Malinin patiently listened to Rokossovsky's story, then shook his head and said: "Comrade Commander, I have heard of amphibious tanks, which are basically light tanks that can float on the water. Tanks that can dive.
, this is the first time I’ve heard of it.”
"I just heard about it." Fortunately, Rokossovsky did not dwell on this issue and changed the subject in time: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please contact Chuikov immediately and ask him to send enough force to protect the erection.
The pontoon bridge. You tell him that the pontoon bridge is the lifeline to ensure the landing site on the left bank. Once this lifeline is cut off, no matter how heroic the troops on the left bank are, they will eventually have to abandon the landing site because they run out of ammunition and food."
Hearing what Rokossovsky said, Malinin realized the seriousness of the problem. He nodded and said: "I understand, Comrade Commander, I will convey your intention to Chuikov immediately."
At the same time, Chuikov was in his headquarters, listening to the report of the chief of staff, General Belyavsky: "... At present, most of the division artillery, all the regiment artillery, the 43rd Guards Cannon Artillery
Some of the brigade's 152mm cannon howitzers and three self-propelled artillery regiments were deployed on the right bank to conduct direct aiming fire."
Chuikov nodded and asked, "How much equipment do we have for crossing the river?"
"83 amphibious vehicles, approximately 300 ships and motorboats of various types, with a total capacity of carrying 3,700 people."
"It can only carry 3,700 people at a time." Chuikov was obviously dissatisfied with this data. He shook his head and said, "I think the number of ships must be at least doubled so that we can transport more troops in a short period of time."
Transported to the Left Bank.”
"The Front Army Headquarters said that they will provide us with a batch of river crossing equipment," Belyavsky asked Chuikov tentatively: "Comrade Commander, could you please call and ask when the river crossing equipment provided to us will be available?"
In place?"
But before Chuikov could call the front army headquarters, Ma Linin called first: "Hello, General Chuikov! My name is Ma Linin!"
"Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff!" Chuikov heard the call from Ma Linin and ignored the pleasantries and asked straight to the point: "I would like to ask when will our superiors provide us with the equipment to cross the river? You know, we are now
All the ships combined can only carry 3,700 people across the river at one time. As for the pontoon and bridge troops, the situation is even worse. I am afraid that they do not even have the materials to build a pontoon bridge."
"General Chuikov, I called you because it was related to this matter." Ma Linin said: "Currently, the only troops with the equipment to cross the river are General Sokov's 48th Group Army. I have issued a recruitment order to them and asked them to do so as soon as possible.
Send the river-crossing equipment to the front army headquarters. Once they deliver the items, I will arrange for someone to deliver them to you."
When Chuikov heard that the 48th Group Army had equipment for crossing the river, his eyes shone brightly and he quickly asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, is it the kind of hovercraft that travels very fast? If so, that would be great. In less than an hour,
I can send all the troops of a division to the other side of the river."
"It's a pity, General Chuikov." Unexpectedly, Ma Linin poured cold water on Chuikov: "The batch of hovercrafts you know have been taken back by the Weapons and Equipment Department. The river crossing equipment that the 48th Group Army can provide you is ordinary
boats and kayaks and stuff like that.”
Just when Chuikov was lost, he heard Ma Linin say again: "Comrade Commander asked me to tell you that after you build the pontoon bridge on the Vistula River, you must beware of German air attacks. The pontoon bridge is the lifeline connecting the two sides. Once the lifeline is blocked by the enemy,
If it is cut off, then the troops on the left bank will have an extremely difficult time, and in the end they will either be wiped out by the enemy or driven back to the right bank. Do you understand?"
"I understand, Comrade Chief of Staff." Chuikov assured Malinin: "Once our army establishes a landing site on the left bank, we will definitely ensure the safety of the pontoon bridge connecting the two sides."
After Chuikov put down the phone, he said to Belyavsky: "Chief of Staff, Malinin just called and said that a batch of river crossing equipment has been mobilized for us from the 48th Group Army and will be delivered as soon as possible."
Belyavsky also knew about the existence of hovercrafts. Hearing what Chuikov said, he thought that among the river-crossing equipment provided by the other party, including hovercrafts, he couldn't help but feel happy: "Comrade Commander, this is the kind of vehicle that can travel quickly on the water and in swamps."
A moving hovercraft?”
"Chief of Staff, I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint you." Chuikov shook his head and said, "Those hovercrafts have been taken away by the Weapons and Equipment Department, so the river crossing equipment provided by the 48th Group Army are ordinary wooden boats or kayaks.
"
"That's such a pity." Belyavsky said: "I heard that the troops commanded by General Sokov used hovercrafts to carry out forcible crossings several times, catching the Germans by surprise, and the troops successfully landed on the other side.
, established a reliable landing site. If we can also have a batch of such hovercrafts, then the Vistula River, no matter how wide it is, will not pose any threat to us."
"On the phone just now, Chief of Staff Malinin reminded us of one thing." Chuikov pointed to the Vistula River on the map: "After our troops establish a landing site on the left bank, they should quickly complete the erection of the pontoon bridge to ensure that the
Soldiers, equipment, various materials, and energy are continuously transported to the landing site. Once the Germans become aware of our actions, they will definitely use artillery shelling or air force bombing to cut off the exercises between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait."
When he said this, Chuikov couldn't help but think of the days when he was holding on to Stalingrad. Due to the ice on the Volga River, soldiers and supplies on the east bank could not be transported to the city, and the wounded and evacuated residents in the city could not be moved.
To the east coast. Fortunately, it is still summer, so there is no need to worry about the water freezing. Even if the pontoon cannot be erected, the personnel and materials needed for the landing site can still be transported by boat.
"Comrade Commander, Comrade Commander." Seeing that Chuikov had been distracted, Belyavsky couldn't help but call him, "What are you thinking about?"
Chuikov was awakened from his reverie, laughed, and replied: "I was thinking about the Battle of Stalingrad."
Hearing Chuikov mention the Battle of Stalingrad, Belyavsky immediately misunderstood what he meant, nodded and said: "I think at the beginning, General Sokov was just a division commander under you, no matter what he means now,
In terms of military rank and position, I am on the same level as you."
"General Sokov is an excellent commander." Chuikov commented about Sokov to Belyavsky: "The German troops who have fought with him will be frightened whenever they hear his name.
Trembling. When encountering again, fear will cause the troops to become disorganized and morale low, thus leading to a significant reduction in combat effectiveness."
Belyavsky raised his hand to look at the time and said to Chuikov: "Comrade Commander, the forced crossing operation will begin in twelve hours. Will the forced crossing be carried out only in the newly selected areas?" he asked.
The reason is that the position established by the 4th Guards Corps after crossing the river two days ago was not in the area where the storming was about to begin.
Chuikov understood what Belyavsky wanted to express, nodded, and said: "That's right, the forced crossing operation in twelve hours will only be carried out at a few newly selected target locations. The 4th Guards Army
Several fortifications have been built on the left bank. Unless the forced transfer operation here fails, no action should be taken."
The left bank areas occupied by the 4th Guards Army were crisscrossed by rivers and heavily wooded, which was not conducive to the deployment of mechanized troops. Therefore, the German army did not have much defensive power in those areas. Therefore, when the 8th Guards Army established a landing site on the left bank,
Just consider those areas as alternative areas after the forced transfer operation fails.
After Sokov learned that Chuikov's troops were about to cross the Vistula River, he immediately arranged for preparations and sent all the collected river crossing equipment to the front army headquarters. Seeing that Sokov moved so quickly, he quickly sent the river crossing equipment
It was delivered, and Malinin represented Rokossovsky on the phone and presented him with a verbal commendation.
Just as the phone was hung up, the phone next to it rang again. Sidorin picked it up and listened for a while, then handed the phone to Sokov and said: "Comrade Commander, the person who is calling for you is
This is from Lieutenant Colonel Glushko."
"Lieutenant Colonel Glushko," Sokov put the microphone to his ear and asked, "What do you want from me?"
"Comrade Commander, my new deputy brigade commander, Lieutenant Colonel Ivan, said that he is an old acquaintance with you." Glushko said on the phone: "He asked me to say hello to you!"
The name Ivan is too common for Sokov. Among the people he knows, there are at least dozens of people with this name. He asked with some confusion: "He said he is an acquaintance of mine? You ask
Ask him, where did we meet?" Although he didn't see what the other person looked like, he was very dissatisfied with this person's casual relationship.
"I have already asked, Comrade Commander." Glushko said with a smile: "He said that he met you when he liberated the city of Kryukovo. At that time, he was a member of the 1077th Regiment of the 8th Guards Division.
Battalion Commander, you were directly promoted from sergeant to lieutenant during that battle and assumed the position of company commander."
After listening to Glushko's story, Sokov recalled his experience shortly after he came to this world. At that time, the 8th Guards Division wanted to liberate the city of Kryukovo, and this Lieutenant Colonel Ivan, no, he was
The troops commanded by Major Ivan were the main attacker. However, due to the incorrect attack method, one-third of the troops were killed or injured, but not even a street was captured. He led his men into the buildings on both sides of the street and blasted through them.
After the wall, we came to the vicinity of the German firepower point. After easily destroying it, we opened a passage for the large troops to attack.
"It turns out it's him." After Sokov figured out who it was, he said with a smile: "Lieutenant Colonel Glushko, then you can bring him over. After all, we are old acquaintances. We can sit down and talk about old times."
.”
"Comrade Commander," Sidorin waited for Sokov to put down the phone and immediately came over and asked curiously: "What's going on with Lieutenant Colonel Ivan? Can you tell me?"
Not only did Sidorin see that he was very interested in his relationship with Lieutenant Colonel Ivan, but even Ponedelin looked at him curiously. Sokov coughed lightly, cleared his throat and said
: "This was just after the big counterattack under Moscow started. At that time, I was just a guard platoon leader in Khimki Town. I was assigned by my superiors to the 1077th Regiment of the 8th Guards Division. When I went there, they were attacking Kliu.
Kovo, due to certain deficiencies in the use of tactics, the troops suffered one-third of the casualties and still failed to break through the German fortifications in the middle of the street..."
When Ponejelin heard this, he immediately became interested: "Comrade Commander, tell me quickly, what method did you use to destroy the enemy's fortifications?"
"The method is very simple." Sokov said lightly: "I brought the soldiers into the building, then blasted through the wall, approached the location of the enemy's firepower point from the indoor, then appeared at the window, threw grenades and shot downwards
, and was killed by the enemy’s firepower in one fell swoop.”
"Great, Comrade Commander, your method is really great." Ponejelin said: "According to my idea, if you want to destroy the enemy's fortifications, I'm afraid you can only use rocket launchers or recoilless guns.
OK. But I didn’t expect that you could quickly approach the enemy’s fortifications from inside the building and destroy them with grenades and bullets.”
"Comrade Deputy Commander, actually you don't know that I am very afraid of death." Sokov said with a smile: "So when fighting, I have to constantly use my brain and try to come up with a way to destroy the enemy.
It’s a good way to save yourself.”
Sokov's statement made the two of them laugh. Sidorin pointed at Sokov with his hand: "You can say this in front of us. If others hear it, be careful that someone will complain about you."
It’s greed for life and fear of death.”
"Chief of Staff, I've spoken too much." Ponejelin said from the side: "If anyone says he is afraid of death, others will believe him. But if he says our commander is afraid of death, no one will believe him. Look, from him
Since I joined the army, I have fought many tough battles and been injured many times. If you were greedy for life and afraid of death, you would have looked for opportunities to stay in the rear, and you would never be on the front line like you are now."
"Okay, okay, let's not talk anymore." Sokov also realized that in today's era, some jokes cannot be said casually, otherwise it may really cause unnecessary trouble for himself. He said to Sidorin:
"Lieutenant Colonel Glushko and Lieutenant Colonel Ivan are coming over. Let the cooking team prepare something good for them so that they can enjoy a big meal."