"How is the situation there?" Zhukov was not polite to Sokov and asked directly: "When can we win the Triangle?"
Faced with Zhukov's question, Sokov remained silent. He wanted to win the triangle area quickly, but the current situation made this battle full of uncertainty.
"Misha, are you still there?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal, I'm still here!"
"Since you are still here, why don't you speak?" Zhukov said in a reproachful tone: "Why don't you answer the question I asked you?"
"Comrade Marshal, our situation here has become very complicated." After organizing the vocabulary in his mind, Sokov reported to Zhukov: "Although the German army lost the artillery support of the Modlin Fortress, the artillery fire they had
It is still powerful. So much so that the commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, who was responsible for the left-wing attack, was unfortunately sacrificed under enemy fire while leading the division headquarters to move forward..."
"Wait a minute," Zhukov heard this and interrupted Sokov's next words: "You said the commander of the 3rd Infantry Division died under enemy fire?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal, he was shot and died."
"Then who is taking over his position and commanding the 3rd Infantry Division now?" Zhukov asked.
"It is his chief of staff, Lieutenant Colonel Myakov, who is commanding the troops." Sokov was worried that Zhukov would be dissatisfied with his appointment, and specifically explained to him: "As the commander of the 3rd Division, Sokov
The chief of staff of the division is undoubtedly the person who is most familiar with the army. It is obviously appropriate for me to appoint him as acting division commander."
"I didn't say there was a problem with your appointment." Zhukov asked angrily: "What about the troops attacking on the right wing? How is their progress?"
"I have ordered the 109th Division on the right to stop the attack and switch to defense in place."
When Zhukov heard this, he immediately became angry: "Comrade Sokov, the order I gave you is to capture the triangle area controlled by the German army in the shortest possible time. It's a good thing that you actually made your own decisions and ordered the troops responsible for the offensive.
Stop the attack and switch to defense on the spot. Can you explain to me what is going on?"
"Comrade Marshal, please listen to my explanation." Sokov knew that the attack on the Modlin Fortress was not going well, and Zhukov was angry. If he did not explain clearly to him, it would be inevitable to get scolded, so he quickly explained
: "According to the intelligence we have, the Germans have stockpiled a large amount of explosives on the reservoir dam of the Narew River. If our army's offensive is violent, they will blow up the dam and use floods to block our army.
The way forward. It is precisely because of this that I temporarily ordered the troops to stop attacking and assume a defensive posture."
"Stop the attack temporarily and put on a defensive posture?" Zhukov keenly captured the key words in Sokov's words: "So, you plan to launch a new attack on the German defense line at the appropriate time.
attack?"
"You guessed it right, Comrade Marshal." Seeing that Zhukov had guessed the answer, Sokov further explained to him: "The commander of the 109th Division, Brajinski, sent a small force to lurk near the German reservoir.
Prepare to seize the opportunity to seize the reservoir. As long as they control the reservoir and make the enemy's conspiracy to use floods to block our army go bankrupt, the division can launch a new attack again."
"Well, Misha, you have considered it very comprehensively." After Zhukov listened to Sokov's explanation, a smile appeared on his face: "I hope that after the attack on the right wing restarts, we can break through the enemy's defense line as soon as possible."
"Comrade Marshal, you can rest assured of this." Sokov assured Zhukov: "As long as the troops on the right wing start attacking, they will definitely be able to capture the enemy's position in the shortest possible time."
"Are you so confident?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Sokov nodded and continued: "According to my analysis, once the Germans discover that our right-wing troops have stopped attacking and have adopted a defensive posture, in order to consolidate the overall defense line, they will definitely
The main force on the right wing will be transferred to the left wing to resist the 3rd Division's attack. On the original position, only a small number of troops will be left for surveillance. When our right wing force launches another attack, this small number of troops will not be enough to stop it.
Our offense."
Zhukov laughed after hearing this: "Misha, I didn't expect that you had prepared a back-up plan. I look forward to seeing you complete the scheduled combat missions and eliminate the enemies in the triangle area as soon as possible. If there is anything you need help with, you can
Just call me and I will fully support you."
"Thank you, Comrade Marshal." Sokov said quickly: "I will call you if necessary."
However, before putting down the phone, Sokov cautiously asked: "Comrade Marshal, I would like to ask, how is the situation over at Modlin Fortress?"
Zhukov asked warily: "Why do you ask this?"
"If the friendly forces can capture the Modlin Fortress early, we won't have to worry about being hit by artillery fire from the direction of the fortress, and it can also reduce the casualties of some troops."
"The attack in the direction of the Modlin Fortress is not going well." After Zhukov said briefly, he emphasized to Sokov: "Misha, don't worry, even if the Modlin Fortress cannot be taken temporarily, the fortress cannot be used.
If artillery fire poses any threat to you, you can concentrate on attacking the triangle area."
After ending the call with Zhukov, Sokov called Ponedelin and Sidorin in front of him and said to them: "Comrade Marshal just said on the phone that the 65th and 70th Group Armies attacked the Modlin Fortress.
It was not going well. You must know that this is the first offensive campaign he has commanded after taking office. If he cannot achieve the desired results, it may have an adverse impact on his prestige, so..."
Ponejelin said: "Therefore, we must achieve results in our battle in the triangle area, so that even if the Modlin Fortress cannot be taken, Marshal Zhukov will not be disgraced."
"Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander, you are right, this is indeed the case." After Sokov finished saying this, he turned his eyes to Sidorin: "Chief of Staff, you give Brakinsky
The colonel made a phone call and asked him to speed up the action to seize the reservoir."
"Comrade Commander, I think this matter cannot be rushed." Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Sidorin shook his head and reminded Sokov: "If we seize the reservoir prematurely, the enemy in front of the 109th Division will not adjust
Let's go, then the offensive battle will become extremely fierce. I suggest that we wait until the enemy deploys troops to deal with our left wing troops, and then let the 109th Division carry out the operation to seize the reservoir."
"I think the chief of staff is right." Ponejelin also said to Sokov: "We cannot rush to seize the reservoir, otherwise our army's intentions will be exposed. If the Germans are prepared, the 109th Division's attack will become
It was extremely difficult.”
Seeing that Ponedelin and Sidorin had the same opinion, Sokov did not insist on his opinion, but promptly changed the order: "Then tell Colonel Braginsky that once it is discovered that the enemy's troops have been transferred,
Take immediate action to seize the reservoir dam from the Germans and never let the enemy blow up the dam."
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Sidorin said with a smile: "I will explain this matter clearly to Colonel Brajinski."
When the battle progressed to three o'clock in the afternoon, Miyakov first called Sokov to report: "Comrade Commander, our troops have captured another line of defense of the German army, but their artillery fire is fierce and our troops cannot continue to move forward.
.”
After hearing what Miyakov said, Sokov quickly turned to ask Sidorin: "Chief of Staff, what does the artillery director say? Can our artillery counterattack the enemy's artillery positions?"
"Comrade Commander, our artillery is already doing this." Sidorin said with a serious expression: "But the enemy's artillery positions are scattered. The artillery currently in the forefront can only hit one or two places of the enemy at a time.
There is simply no way to effectively suppress their artillery."
"I understand." After Sokov finished saying this, he said to the topic: "Lieutenant Colonel Myakov, first consolidate the positions you have occupied and put on an offensive posture to attract the Germans.
We must pay attention to it and buy valuable time for our artillery to advance forward."
"I understand, Comrade Commander." Miyakov said helplessly: "I obey your order."
After Sokov put down the phone, he was so angry that he slapped his hands on the table several times and said angrily: "Damn Germans, why haven't you transferred the troops from the other side until now? Otherwise we can all let the 109th Division
Action was taken.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the phone on the table rang.
Picking up the phone, he heard that the call was actually from Braginski. Sokov asked with some urgency: "Comrade Colonel, how is the situation there? What's going on with the Germans?"
"Report to Comrade Commander," Brakinski's excited voice came from the receiver: "The enemy has moved, the enemy has moved!"
"What, the enemy has started to mobilize?" Sokov asked: "How many troops have been mobilized away from the original defense area?"
"My scouts reported to me that the enemy has used no less than two hundred trucks to transport troops, weapons and ammunition, and they have already set off."
When Sokov heard this, he began to think that two hundred trucks were enough to transport a regiment of officers and soldiers, as well as the weapons and ammunition they carried. According to the intelligence obtained before the battle started, the German army deployed five troops in the triangle area.
regiments, in the morning battle, at least two regiments were disabled, and the remaining three regiments were used for defense in two directions, which was obviously not enough.
But out of caution, he still asked tentatively: "How many enemies are left in that position?"
"According to my estimate, there are no more than two battalions." Brakinski said: "If our division attacks at this moment, it will definitely break through the German defenses very quickly."
Although victory was right in front of him, Sokov did not act rashly. He said cautiously: "Comrade Colonel, what you have to do now is two things. One is to strengthen reconnaissance and find out how many enemies are on the position; the other is to do it as soon as possible.
We must seize the reservoir dam to ensure that our army will not be blocked by floods when attacking."
"Two battalions of defenders, and they have to defend such a wide front." Sidorin waited for Sokov to put down the phone and said excitedly: "As long as the 109th Division launches another attack, it will definitely be able to successfully capture the enemy's position.
.”
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov worried that Sidorin was underestimating the enemy, and quickly reminded him: "The two battalions of defenders are just Colonel Brazinski's inference. The specific number of enemies still needs further investigation by the scouts.
Verify. More importantly, if we cannot control the reservoir before the offensive restarts, there will still be many uncertain factors in whether we can achieve final victory."
"Comrade Commander." Ponejelin reminded Sokov: "The 3rd Division is fighting very hard now. Do you think we should transfer the second echelon of the 211th Infantry Division?"
"I think it's okay." Sokov agreed to Ponedelin's proposal, and added: "The 3rd Division has been fighting for most of the day, and the commanders and soldiers should be very tired. The 211th Division will take over their attack.
This can give the commanders and fighters some time to breathe. In addition, the 122nd Infantry Brigade has also been mobilized as soon as possible. Although the 109th Division does not lack troops, in the battle, no commander will dislike his troops too much.
too much."
"Okay, Comrade Commander." Sidorin nodded and said, "I immediately ordered the troops of the second echelon to rush to support the first echelon."
"The key to victory now depends on whether the small force sent by Brakinski can successfully seize the reservoir dam from the Germans." Ponejelin said from the side: "If the Germans jump over the wall in a hurry, they will blow it up in advance.
If the dam falls, our plan will be ruined."
"Yeah, this is exactly what gives me a headache." Sokov said: "The situation on the battlefield is changing rapidly, and no one knows what will happen next. So we have to prepare for the worst, which is to
Kinski's troops failed to seize the reservoir dam, and as a result the Germans blew up the dam and the flood blocked our army's path forward."
"What should we do next?" Sidorin asked.
Sokov glanced at Sidorin and said quietly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, now we can only wait for news from Colonel Braginski. If we successfully seize the reservoir dam, we will win this battle."
"If the dam is blown up by the Germans, it means we have lost this battle. All we can do is to withdraw the troops from the battle as soon as possible, and then launch a new attack on the enemy when there is an opportunity in the future."
Unexpectedly, Ponejelin suddenly interrupted: "Comrade Commander, if today's attack fails, I'm afraid we will never have a chance again."
Just when Sokov was about to ask what the other party meant, Sidorin asked first: "Comrade Deputy Commander, why is this?"
"The reason is very simple." Ponedelin smiled faintly and said: "Today's battle is the last battle of our group army in the First Belarusian Front. When the battle is over, we will all leave. If we attack
If it fails, then the task of destroying the enemies in the triangle zone will be completed by other units of the First Front Army and will have nothing to do with us. After all, we will have become part of the Second Front Army by then."
"Comrade Deputy Commander is right, today is our last battle in the First Front Army sequence." Sokov nodded and said: "We have had a good beginning, and now at the end, it is also
Don't behave too badly, otherwise you will disappoint Marshal Zhukov."
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Ponedelin comforted Sokov and said, "I have a hunch that we will definitely win this battle. If you don't believe it, just wait and see."