The German troops who were fighting against the 3rd Army and the 2nd Assault Army never dreamed that their flanks would be attacked unexpectedly. The already precarious defense line collapsed in an instant. The two Soviet troops broke through the German defense line.
, taking advantage of the victory, they pursued the German army for four to five kilometers. They did not stop the pursuit until dark and switched to defense on the occupied position.
Seeing the unprecedented success of the attack by the front's left wing troops, Rokossovsky could not help but be overjoyed. He repeatedly said to Subotin and Bogolyubov: "Military Commissar, Chief of Staff, I really didn't expect that today's attack would be so successful."
It went so smoothly. Except for Mischa's 48th Group Army, which penetrated the German defense to a depth of 28 to 30 kilometers, the other units also penetrated into the German defense to a depth of more than ten kilometers. This can be said to be an unprecedented victory.
"
Bogolyubov said: "Yes, Comrade Marshal. At first, I thought it was a waste for the air force to carry out high-density bombing on the enemy's positions. But now it seems that it was precisely because of our early intensive bombing that the German army was destroyed
Those solid fortifications thus reduced the resistance our army encountered during the offensive."
"Today's fighting is fierce, and the troops' ammunition consumption is very large, especially for Misha's troops. I'm afraid there is less than a base of ammunition left."
"Comrade Marshal, don't worry." Bogolyubov assured Rokossovsky: "I have already informed the logistics department and asked them to give priority to supplying the 48th Group Army. At this moment, the convoys transporting ammunition and supplies are
Should have set off already."
Hearing what Bogolyubov said, Rokossovsky nodded slightly and said: "You must all know that no matter which unit Mischa commanded, it performed the most outstandingly on the battlefield and achieved the greatest results.
.Therefore, after the battle, the ammunition and supplies that should be replenished to them should be delivered to them as early as possible, so as not to affect their battle on the next day."
Whether it is Suboting or Bogolyubov, they all know that Rokossovsky prefers Sokov. If there is any good thing, he is the first to think of him. But no one has any opinion on this. Who let Sokov
The troops under his command performed so well on the battlefield. Not to mention Rokossovsky, who had a close relationship with him, even if he were replaced by any front commander, he would still prefer an outstanding commander like Sokov.
Rokossovsky called the director of the communications corps over and asked him: "Have any German telegrams been intercepted?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal." The director of the communications corps nodded and said, "We just intercepted a telegram, ordering the German troops in front of our army to retreat."
"What, order the defenders in front of our army to retreat?" Rokossovsky couldn't help but be stunned when he heard what the other party said: "Strange, why would the Germans give such an order?"
Bogolyubov took the telegram from the director of the communications corps. After reading it carefully several times, he confirmed that the other party was correct. Then he said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Marshal, it may be our powerful offensive today."
, scared the Germans out of their wits. In order to avoid suffering greater losses, they had no choice but to abandon their existing positions and retreat."
Regarding Bogolyubov's analysis, Rokossovsky shook his head and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I don't agree with your statement. If the battlefield is still in our country, facing such a powerful force like ours,
I think it is understandable that the Germans chose to retreat during the attack. After all, once they are surrounded by us, their logistics supplies will be cut off, and they may even be completely annihilated by our army. But we are fighting in the East Prussia area now, and Germany
The slogan shouted by people is to fight to the last man, how can they retreat so easily, I think there may be something wrong with it."
"What's the problem?" Bogolyubov asked rhetorically.
"I couldn't figure it out for a while." Rokossovsky said: "But we can't take it lightly. Let's immediately send out reconnaissance personnel to go deep into the enemy's rear overnight to find out whether their troops have retreated overnight.
sign."
"Understood." Bogolyubov nodded and said, "I will immediately arrange for reconnaissance personnel to go deep into the enemy's rear to find out whether the enemy has any conspiracy."
At the same time, at the 48th Army Headquarters.
Sokov, who had just finished the division commanders' meeting, said to Sidorin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, although we fought well today, we cannot be complacent. You sent out scouts overnight to conduct reconnaissance deep into the enemy's rear.
, understand the enemy's troop deployment so that we can launch targeted attacks in tomorrow's battle."
"Comrade Commander, you can rest assured on this." Sidorin replied with a smile: "During the attack this afternoon, I sent a group of scouts disguised as Germans and followed the broken troops back to the German defense area.
.I think they have already launched reconnaissance on the enemy's positions at this moment, and I believe it won't be long before we can get exact information."
Sokov, who was eager to know the intelligence behind the enemy's rear, asked with some urgency: "Chief of Staff, when will the intelligence from the scouts be sent back?"
"I'm afraid it will have to wait until early morning at the earliest." Sidorin said: "After all, they have to wait until after dark before they can carry out reconnaissance operations. It will be almost early morning when the intelligence feedback comes back."
Seeing Sokov's frown, Sidorin said confidently: "Comrade Commander, in fact, even if we don't send scouts, we don't have to worry about the enemies in front. After a day's battle, they were all defeated. Facing the
Our army's offensive cannot stop any decent resistance."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, although we fought well during the day, we still found many problems at the summary meeting just now." Sokov said: "One of them is that because the war is progressing too smoothly, many commanders and soldiers have already produced
The German army was indeed defeated by us in the daytime battle, but who can guarantee that they will not readjust their deployment tonight, or transfer fresh troops from other places to strengthen the defense of existing areas? What if we
Without even knowing the details of the enemy, if we rush to attack rashly, we will probably suffer big losses."
"Okay, then I will ask the director of the reconnaissance department to contact the scouts behind enemy lines and ask them to report the situation behind enemy lines as soon as possible."
Although the director of the reconnaissance department immediately ordered the telegraph operator to contact the scouts behind enemy lines after receiving Sidorin's call. However, it takes time to conduct reconnaissance of the enemy's defense area, so Sokov and others waited in the headquarters
At one o'clock in the morning, we received the information from the scouts.
After reading the intelligence sent by the director of the reconnaissance department, Sokov couldn't help but look livid. He didn't expect that the Germans were so cunning and actually laid a trap for him, waiting for his troops to jump into it.
After reading the telegram, Ponyjelin and Sidorin couldn't help but be shocked. If the scouts had not promptly fed back the intelligence behind the enemy lines, the troops would have suffered heavy losses in the attack after dawn. If the attacking troops had not
Being defeated by the German army will affect the morale and morale of friendly troops.
Seeing the dignified expressions of the three people, Lunev didn't know what was going on. After he picked up the scout's information, he became even more panicked. He tentatively asked Sokov: "Misha, such important information needs to be done immediately.
Report to the marshal?"
"Well, I think it's necessary." Sokov raised his hand to look at the time and frowned: "It's so late, I don't know if the Marshal is asleep."
"I think he probably hasn't slept." Lunev said in a positive tone: "Based on what I know about him, in such a large-scale war, it is common for him to stay up all night for three or four nights. What are you talking about now?
After the call, he must still be working."
Sokov knew in his heart that there must be people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs around Rokossovsky, and his every move would be reported promptly. As the deputy minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Lunev must have read a lot about Rokossovsky.
Sokovsky had information about Rokossovsky and understood the other party’s living habits and work and rest time. Since he said that Rokossovsky had not rested yet, he must not have rested. So Sokovsky called the director of the communications corps and ordered him to contact the front army.
He planned to report the situation behind enemy lines to Rokossovsky.
After the call was connected, Rokossovsky had not rested yet. He learned that Sokov had something important to ask him, so he came over and took the phone from the staff officer on duty: "Misha, this is Rokossov.
Fsky, what can I do for you?"
"Comrade Marshal," Sokov said: "I have just received a report from the scouts sent behind enemy lines. The German army withdrew an armored division from the attack front of the 65th and 70th Group Armies and deployed it on the flank of our army's offensive line.
. Judging from their deployment, they should be preparing to take advantage of the advance of our army group troops to launch an armored assault from our flanks unexpectedly, cutting off the connection between our attacking troops and the rear."
"Oh, the enemy's withdrawn armored division actually reached the flank of your attack route after dawn."
When Sokov heard what Rokossovsky said, he couldn't help but be stunned, and then asked: "Comrade Marshal, did you already know that the Germans have adjusted their troop deployment?"
"We intercepted a German telegram just before dark, which ordered the troops to retreat." Rokossovsky explained: "In order to find out what was going on with the Germans' retreat, I specifically ordered the Chief of Staff to
We sent a capable reconnaissance team to conduct reconnaissance deep behind enemy lines. But unfortunately, the reconnaissance team we sent has no news so far. I really didn’t expect that the Germans actually ambush the withdrawn troops in your attack
Route flanks.”
"Comrade Marshal, you know that the number of artillery and tank troops in our group army is very limited." Sokov expressed his concerns to Rokossovsky: "If our troops launch an attack on the enemy in front,
, the German armored divisions attacking from the flanks will probably cause us a lot of casualties."
"Misha, don't worry, the German armored forces do not pose any threat to you." Rokossovsky comforted Sokov and said: "Tell me the location of the German armored forces. When daybreak, I will
The air force will be dispatched to bomb that area. No matter how powerful the German tanks are on the ground, if they encounter our aircraft, they will only be passively beaten."
"That's great." Sokov couldn't help but be overjoyed when he heard that Rokossovsky planned to send the air force to deal with the German tanks. You know, today's tanks basically have no air defense function. No matter how powerful they are in land battles,
When encountering a Soviet aircraft, the final result can only be that it will be blown into a pile of scrap metal. "As long as we get air support from the Air Force, our next battle will be much easier to fight."
"Misha, what are the casualties of your troops?" Rokossovsky then asked a question he was concerned about: "Can we maintain yesterday's offensive posture after dawn?"
Sokov knew very well that the reason why yesterday's battle went smoothly was entirely because the German army was overwhelmed by the fierce bombing and artillery shelling. After a night's rest, many troops had readjusted their deployment and were ready to deal with it again.
It is basically impossible to achieve a victory like yesterday. At this moment, Rokossovsky asked him about the casualties of his troops. Sokov quickly replied: "The casualties of each division exceeded one-third, but the casualties of each division exceeded one-third.
The morale of the officers and soldiers is high, and I believe that in the battle after dawn, they will still be as brave and fearless as yesterday, and their performance will make up for our lack of strength."
"Well said, Misha." Sokov's words made Rokossovsky feel comfortable. He nodded and said, "I believe you will achieve something like this in today's daytime battle."
What a glorious victory yesterday.”
After putting down the phone, Sokov said to Ponedelin and others: "Comrades, commanders, let me tell you some good news. Comrade Marshal personally promised me that after daybreak, the air force will be dispatched to bomb the German armored divisions."
That is to say, we no longer have to worry about German armor attacking from our flanks as our troops advance."
"Comrade Commander, although Comrade Marshal has made a promise, we still have no way of knowing what the effect of the bombing will be." Ponedelin waited for Sokov to finish and then put forward his own ideas to him: "To be on the safe side,
, for the battle after dawn, I suggest slowing down the attack speed, and after the friendly forces on the left and right flanks have leveled up with us, we can then rush deep into the enemy's defenses without worrying about a sneak attack by the Germans on our flanks."
"Comrade Deputy Commander, I think your statement is incorrect." But as soon as Ponedelin finished speaking, Sidorin retorted; "Judging from yesterday's battlefield performance, whether it is the 3rd Army or the Assault
The 2nd Army's attack speed is not satisfactory. It would be very unwise for us to slow down and wait for friendly forces to catch up during the daytime battle."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sidorin's words aroused Lunev's curiosity, and he asked tentatively: "Can you tell me what you think?"
"The reason is very simple." Sidorin explained to Lunev: "If we deliberately slow down the attack speed, it will undoubtedly be beneficial to the enemies in front of us, because they will have enough time to strengthen their defenses and adjust
Troop deployment. By the time the friendly forces on both wings arrive, the enemy in the front has already taken advantage of our delay to strengthen their defenses. If we want to effectively break through their defenses, I'm afraid we will pay greater casualties."
"Comrade Chief of Staff." Lunev continued to ask: "Then tell me, what should we do?"