After more than a day of reconnaissance, Sokov discovered a troublesome thing.
Between the 48th Group Army and the German army, there was actually a large river blocking it. This river actually divided into two channels, the East Oder River and the West Oder River, in the middle area between the two sides. There was a shallow shoal between the two rivers, because in the spring
The rising water level caused by melting snow has flooded the shoal, making the river wide to an astonishing five kilometers, and the high west bank is looming.
"Comrade Commander, how we can forcibly cross these rivers under the attack of enemy artillery and machine gun fire is a big problem." Sidorin took the intelligence he had just received and said to Sokov: "If it is
We can also prepare ships for forcible crossing of a river. But now our ships cannot pass through the shoal between the two rivers because the water level is too shallow. The ships will run aground there and become targets of German artillery fire and be blown to pieces.
.”
After so many years of fighting, this was the first time Sokov encountered such complex terrain. Naturally, he also had a headache: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you are right. The shoal between the two rivers makes it impossible for us to use boats."
Carry out forced crossing work. Even if we cross the East Oder River first, the ship will not be able to pass through the shoal and enter the West Oder River."
"Misha, I think we can try using a small boat." Lunev expressed his opinion beside him: "Look, after our troops successfully crossed the East Oder River, we can let the soldiers launch the water and carry the small boat.
Pass through the shoal, then put the ship into the West Ode River, and start a new round of forcible crossing operations."
"Comrade Military Commissar, your idea is unrealistic." After Sokov waited for Lunev to finish speaking, he shook his head and said: "Not to mention the existence of shoals, which prevents our forcible crossing troops from using ships normally. Even if there are not
In the shoal, it is basically impossible for our commanders and soldiers to use their own hands to row a distance of five kilometers. Even when they were crossing the river, the German troops on the other side did not take any action and waited for our soldiers to arrive.
By the time we reached the shore, I was probably too tired to move."
"Then what should we do?" Sidorin asked.
"Chief of Staff, please report the intelligence we have detected to the front army headquarters." Sokov said: "Let's see if they can do anything."
After receiving the report from Sidorin, Rokossovsky stared at the map and studied it for a long time. Then he raised his head and said to Bogolyubov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, this road lies between the 48th Group Army and the enemy.
The river, it is not a river at all, it is simply two Dnieper rivers and one Pripyat river. To complete the forcible crossing under the enemy's intensive artillery fire, I think it is simply an impossible task."
"You are right, Comrade Marshal." Bogolyubov expressed support for Rokossovsky's statement: "We have been fighting for so many years, and this is the first time we have encountered such a river. According to the past
The forced crossing of this river is obviously inappropriate. Therefore, we must study new tactics to ensure that the troops can successfully cross the river."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, sitting in the headquarters studying the map, we can't come up with an effective way." Rokossovsky stood up and said: "I plan to go to the 48th Army in Misha to see if they can find a way to cross the river.
A good way.”
Hearing that Rokossovsky was going to the 48th Group Army, Bogolyubov couldn't help but worry: "Comrade Marshal, the defense zone of the 48th Group Army is now at the forefront of the entire front army. If you go there, you may have to go there in terms of security."
Guaranteed.”
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you can rest assured about this." Rokossovsky knew that Bogolyubov was worried about becoming the second Chernyakhovsky, so he comforted him and said: "I will pay attention to safety.
There will definitely be no accidents."
"Comrade Marshal, I think I'd better call General Sokov first and order him to send troops to pick you up." Bogolyubov said sincerely: "If something happens to you on the road, what will happen to us first?"
For the Second Front Army, it will bring extremely serious consequences."
Rokossovsky saw that this was Bogolyubov's concern for him, so he did not refuse, but nodded and said: "Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, please call Misha and tell me
I want to inform him about the inspection."
Sokov received a call from Bogolyubov and learned that Rokossovsky was coming to inspect his place. He was suddenly shocked into a cold sweat. His defense area was now separated from the Germans by a wide river.
, if Rokossovsky was discovered by the Germans when he came to inspect and was bombarded, it would probably have extremely serious consequences. Thinking of this, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I am too close to the enemy here, Marshal.
I'm afraid there will be security problems if comrades come over."
"That's what I said, General Sokov." Bogolyubov said helplessly: "But Comrade Marshal insists on going to your place to inspect, and I can't stop him. The reason why I called you is
I just hope you can ensure his safety."
"Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army." For Sokov, Rokossovsky was his current supporter. Even if he risked his own life, he could not let anything happen to him, so he replied decisively:
"I will ensure the safety of Comrade Marshal."
After putting down the phone, Sokov said to Sidorin and Lunev: "Chief of Staff, Comrade Military Commissar, General Bogolyubov just called and said that Comrade Marshal is about to come to us for an inspection. You also know that the Second
In mid-month, General Chernyakhovsky, commander of the Third Front Army, was shelled by the Germans on his way to inspect the 3rd Army. He was seriously injured. In order to prevent similar things from happening again, we must
Do a good job in security."
"What should be done specifically?" Sidorin asked.
"First call the artillery director General Potapov," Sokov said to Sidorin: "Let his artillery observers pay close attention to the movements in the direction of the German army. Once the German artillery fire is discovered, they must decisively implement artillery suppression.
.”
After Sidorin wrote down what Sokov said, he raised his head and asked: "What else?"
"In addition, let Captain Koshkin lead a security company to greet Comrade Marshal and his party."
Sidorin asked tentatively: "Aren't we going to greet him?"
"We're not going." Sokov shook his head and explained: "If we were to greet him, the noise would be too great. If the Germans discovered it and fired a barrage of artillery fire at us, it would cause us huge casualties.
"
Sidorin thought that this seemed to be the case, and nodded and said: "Okay, Comrade Commander, then I will send Koshkin to lead people to greet him, and we will stay here to welcome Comrade Marshal."
An hour later, Rokossovsky, accompanied by Koshkin, arrived at the headquarters of the 48th Army.
After shaking hands with Sokov and others, Rokossovsky asked straight to the point: "Misha, how are you? Have you thought of a way to cross the river?"
"There is a way." Sokov said: "If the superiors can give us the hovercraft, our troops can reach the other side smoothly, let alone a mere five kilometers, even if it is fifteen or twenty-five kilometers away.
and successfully captured the river defense position from the enemy."
"Misha, your idea is unrealistic." But as soon as Sokov finished speaking, Rokossovsky poured cold water on him: "I once contacted Comrade Ustinov.
, discussed with him about borrowing a hovercraft, but was rejected by him. He said that the hovercraft is an imperfect product of military production. It is too expensive to use and has frequent failures, so after lending it to you for use a few times,
It has now been sealed.”
Hearing what Rokossovsky said, Sokov realized that his last hope was shattered. But he still asked reluctantly: "Comrade Marshal, is there really no way to do it?"
"Misha, the act of sealing the hovercraft was approved by the Supreme Commander himself." Rokossovsky reminded Sokov: "If you want to unblock it, you must get the permission of the Supreme Commander himself. In the current situation
Next, I think this possibility is unlikely. Even if the blockade is reluctantly lifted, it will take ten days and a half before we encounter us, which will delay the planned attack time."
"Then what should we do?" Sokov asked helplessly.
"Take me to the river and have a look."
"What, you want to go to the river?" Hearing that Rokossovsky was going to the river to check the terrain, Sokov was suddenly startled into a cold sweat and said quickly: "No, no, Comrade Marshal, the situation there is
It's really dangerous, you can't go."
"Is there anything we can't go to?" Rokossovsky said with a smile after hearing this: "Before Operation Bagration started, Marshal Zhukov personally went to the edge of the swamp to inspect. You know, he was so far away at that time
The Germans are only two or three kilometers away, and they are not afraid of danger. Am I just afraid of danger?"
Now that Rokossovsky has spoken to this extent, it is obviously unrealistic to raise objections. Sokov had no choice but to agree to Rokossovsky's proposal: "Okay.
Come on, Comrade Marshal, I will accompany you for a walk by the river."
In order to avoid having too many people and exposing the target, Sokov asked Sidorin and Lunev to stay with him to report. He took Koshkin and several guards, followed Rokossovsky, and headed towards
Walk towards the river.
Fortunately, Rokossovsky did not rush to the river and look directly at the German troops on the other side. Instead, he entered an observation post on the embankment on the shore and observed the situation on the other side from here. When he used a telescope to observe the situation on the other side,
At this time, Sokov, who was standing behind him, was thinking in his mind, I wonder what method the marshal plans to use to break the deadlock in front of him?
After an unknown amount of time, Rokossovsky put down the telescope in his hand, turned around and asked Sokov behind him: "Misha, do you know the strength and defense status of the German troops on the other side?"
"I don't know." Sokov answered truthfully: "Due to the obstruction of the river, we haven't had time to send scouts to the other side, so we don't know anything about the strength and equipment of the German army on the other side."
Seeing that Sokov did not know the strength and equipment of the enemy on the other side, Rokossovsky did not blame him, but simply said: "Let's go back to your headquarters first and study how to cross the river."
After returning to the headquarters, Sokov quickly personally brought a cup of hot tea to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Marshal, please drink tea!"
Rokossovsky took the tea cup and took a sip of tea. After putting the tea cup on the table, he looked at Sokov and asked: "Misha, do you have any way to cross the river now?"
"No." Sokov shook his head and said like a rattle: "The shoal between the East and West Oder River is the biggest problem. Its existence makes it difficult for our army to cross the East Oder River.
Transfer to the Theod River." Seeing that Rokossovsky seemed to want to say something, he added, "Some people may say that this problem can be overcome by using a small boat like the one that usually crosses the river. As long as
After crossing the East Oder River, let the soldiers launch the boat to cross the shoal, and then put the boat into the West Oder River, and then we can continue the forced crossing operation. But I don’t think this approach is worth adopting. After all, we and the enemy
The river between them is five kilometers wide. Even if the soldiers can row this far, they will probably exhaust their energy."
"You are right, Misha." Rokossovsky agreed with Sokov's statement: "Let the soldiers paddle for five kilometers continuously, which is a strict test on their physical strength.
The test. At the beginning, maybe their speed will be very fast, but as their physical strength is exhausted, their rowing speed will become slower and slower. By then, a large number of boats will float slowly on the West River.
, will become the best target for German artillery."
"Comrade Marshal, is there really nothing we can do?"
"I do have an idea." Rokossovsky said hesitantly: "But now we know nothing about the strength and equipment of the German troops on the West Bank, and we don't know whether this method is feasible."
Hearing Rokossovsky say there was a way to cross the river in front of him, Sokov couldn't help but become interested and asked with some urgency: "Comrade Marshal, can you tell me what the way is?"
Rokossovsky picked up a pencil on the table, drew a few arrows on the river, and then said: "If only one of your armies launches a forced crossing operation against the other side, the enemy will definitely concentrate all its forces against you.
What I am considering is to deploy General Batov's 65th Army and Fedyuninsky's 2nd Assault Army. When you are carrying out the forced crossing, your left and right wings will also begin to cross the river. In this way, the German army will use
The forces dedicated to defense will be dispersed, thereby reducing your main force in the attack."
"I understand, Comrade Marshal." When Sokov heard this, he immediately understood Rokossovsky's intention and quickly expressed to him: "I will immediately send scouts to the other side of the river to find out the enemy's strength.
Deployment and equipment status in order to formulate new combat plans and provide accurate intelligence support for you."
"Well, Misha, that's what I mean." Seeing that Sokov realized his intention, Rokossovsky nodded and said with satisfaction: "Only after we understand the deployment and equipment of the German army on the other side, I will
Only then can we formulate an attack plan in a targeted manner. I feel that the armies on your left and right wings are simply a feint attack, or a real attack."
He stretched out two fingers and said to Sokov: "Misha, time is tight, I can only give you two days. After two days, you must provide me with accurate information on the other side. How can you do it?
Are you here?"
"Don't worry, Comrade Marshal. I can definitely do it."