While Sokov's troops were still setting up false artillery positions, Batov's troops had already begun to take action.
The advance battalion of the Teremov Division took 30 small boats and successfully crossed the East Oder River under the cover of darkness and landed on the shoal between the two rivers. When the soldiers of the advance battalion stepped onto the shoal, they
Only then did they discover that this was not the rocky beach they imagined. A road had actually been built on the shoal between the two rivers. They used the roadbed of the road to start setting up an offensive starting position, preparing to launch an attack on the enemy from here.
After Colonel Teremov received the report from his subordinates, he personally took a boat to the shoal to inspect, and felt that it was undoubtedly the most appropriate place to establish an offensive starting position. After returning to the east bank of the Oder River, he
He immediately drove to the army headquarters and reported what he saw and heard to Batov.
Hearing that there was a road between the two rivers, Batov also felt that it was undoubtedly the most appropriate place to establish an offensive starting point. He asked Teremov: "Comrade Colonel, if your entire division is deployed at
Is there any problem here?"
"No, Comrade Commander." Teremov replied excitedly: "At the beginning, I thought it was just the shoal of two rivers, and there was no way to build any decent fortifications. Who knew that after we got there,
It was discovered that the so-called shoal was actually a thirty-meter-wide embankment between two rivers, and a road was built on the embankment. After our division stationed here, we could build fortifications and anti-gun holes on one side of the roadbed.
, even if we are bombarded by German artillery, it will not cause us any casualties."
"Since you think there is no problem with the whole division stationed in the shoal, move the troops there as soon as possible." Bartov said: "When the attack begins, the shorter your attack route, the more casualties you will pay in the battle.
few."
"Comrade Commander, when I went to inspect, I had an idea and I didn't know whether I should say it or not."
"If you have any ideas, just say it." Bartov said, "Even if I say something wrong, I won't blame you."
"It's like this. From the middle embankment to the west bank of the Theod River, it's almost two kilometers away." Teremov said: "If a forced crossing is carried out on the offensive day, our division will definitely be in danger during this distance."
It will cost a lot of casualties, so I plan to take action in advance."
"Take action in advance?" After hearing this, Glebov couldn't help but interjected: "Comrade Colonel, are you planning to attack the enemies on the left bank in advance? You know, you only have one division of troops. If the German army uses full firepower, it will attack you.
If we block the attack, I'm afraid your division will suffer heavy casualties."
"You are right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Teremov said to Glebov: "But when I say take action in advance, I don't mean to launch an attack on the enemy regardless of the situation, but to use cannibalization to attack the enemy.
Occupy the enemy's territory."
When Bartov heard this, he realized that Teremov might have some good ideas, so he said in an encouraging tone: "Comrade Colonel, if you have any good ideas, just say it. If it is feasible, I will definitely support it."
your."
"Comrade Commander, this is what I think about." Teremov said: "I plan to use the cover of night to let the advance battalion cross the Theod River and land on the west bank. If the German army's defense is lax, then
We found a way to seize a stronghold and build our landing site. Then we sent a little force there every day, so that when the attack started, we might have a large number of troops on the west bank, occupying a large area.
Landing Ground."
After hearing what Teremov said, Batov did not immediately express his position. Instead, he turned to ask Glebov next to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what do you think?"
"I think it is possible." Glebov said: "I think it is feasible for our troops to sneak into the West Bank, seize some important positions under the noses of the Germans, and fortify them to resist the German counterattack that is stronger than them.
And more importantly, if the troops landing on the west bank can gain a firm foothold, they can also provide us with support when our attack begins, thereby reducing the casualties of the troops crossing the river."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, your idea is the same as mine." Batov nodded in agreement with Glebov's statement, "As long as we can first cross the river with some troops and establish a landing site on the west bank, our subsequent forced crossing
Action is very beneficial.”
"Colonel Teremov." Batov turned to face Teremov and said: "Without further ado, before the enemy is aware of it, you can move more troops to the embankment position. If possible, send more troops
The advance battalion crossed the West River and went to the west bank to establish a landing site."
Teremov returned to his division headquarters, and after giving orders to the commanders of each regiment to cross the river, he said to his chief of staff: "Chief of Staff, the commander ordered us to take advantage of the cover of night to let the troops cross the river.
The advance battalion crossed the West River, seized several important strongholds under the nose of the German troops on the west bank, and held them so that they could provide necessary support to the troops crossing the river when our army launched its attack."
Unexpectedly, after Teremov finished speaking, his chief of staff shook his head and said: "Comrade division commander, I think it is obviously inappropriate to send an advance battalion to seize the stronghold on the other side tonight."
"Why?" Teremov asked puzzledly: "Why is it inappropriate?"
"We are not yet ready for a tough battle with the Germans," the chief of staff explained to Teremov: "Our current priority is to consolidate the offensive starting point at the embankment instead of consuming precious troops on the West Bank.
In a tug-of-war with the Germans."
Teremov frowned and said displeasedly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, according to you, the commander's order will not be carried out?"
"Comrade Division Commander, you have misunderstood me." The Chief of Staff waved his hand and continued: "I am opposed to dispatching troops to occupy the stronghold on the West Bank tonight. This does not mean that I refuse to carry out the commander's order. It is just a different way.
implement."
"Execute it in another way." Teremov asked in surprise: "Execute it in another way?"
"I plan to have the advance battalion cross the Theod River tonight, find a suitable position on the west bank, build fortifications, and then return to our army's defense area by boat again after dawn," the chief of staff explained to Teremov.
: "We send troops across the river after dark every day, build fortifications on the west bank, and return before dawn. In this way, the Germans will not be aware of our intentions at all. The night before the attack begins, we will move the troops across the river again.
Cross the West River and let them garrison the fortifications that have been repaired long ago. After the attack begins, our troops can directly attack the Germans from these fortifications. Not only can they be caught off guard, but they can also greatly reduce the casualties of the troops.
"
After listening to the explanation of the Chief of Staff, Teremov couldn't help but applaud: "Great, Comrade Chief of Staff, your suggestion is really great. Well, later you will notify the advance battalion and ask them to cross the river to the west bank overnight.
Find a suitable location to build hidden fortifications, and return to our defense area before dawn."
Although the smuggling operation of the Teremov Division was successfully concealed from the Germans, it was discovered by Sokov's scouts.
When the director of the reconnaissance department put the intelligence fed back by the scouts in front of Sokov, Sokov showed a shocked expression on his face: "This General Batov is very agile. He just entered the combat area not long ago.
, began to send troops to secretly cross the river. It seems that he really listened to my advice and used the shoal area between the two rivers as the starting point for the attack."
After hearing this, Sidorin couldn't help but said with emotion: "Comrade Commander, it's a pity that the shoal area in front of us is flooded by the river. Otherwise, we could also establish an offensive starting position there to shorten the distance during our attack."
"There is no way," Sokov said helplessly: "The position of our group army is the most embarrassing. Not only is it the farthest from the west bank, but it also does not receive any effective support during the attack, so we can only wait for the left and right flanks.
The troops launched the attack first, and after diluting the strength and attention of the German army, we launched the final attack. By the way, are the fake artillery positions ready?"
Sidorin nodded and replied: "We are ready. It depends on whether they will be discovered by the Germans after dawn. If they don't take any action, they can only follow your plan and let the artillery attack the enemy's positions first."
shelling to induce them to fight back."
"Will the artillery used as decoys be dangerous?" Sokov asked with some worry: "Don't wait until they fire the artillery, and the German artillery fire will arrive. It is not worth sacrificing a few artillery just to serve as decoys.
.”
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Sidorin said with a smile: "The decoys are SU-76 self-propelled artillery. They will move their positions after firing a few shots and fire again. You know, these self-propelled artillery are equipped with 122
Millimeter-caliber artillery, if the German positions are bombarded, they will wishfully believe that we have deployed a huge heavy artillery position on the east coast, and they will definitely suffer retaliation from their artillery fire."
"That's good, that's good." Sokov nodded and said: "These self-propelled artillery constantly changing shooting positions will cause the Germans to misjudge and think that we have deployed a large number of heavy artillery by the river. In order to avoid them
If their fortifications are destroyed by our artillery fire, they have to use artillery to suppress our artillery positions. In this way, they fall into our trap, and when their artillery positions are exposed, they will be attacked by us.
The double blow of the artillery and air force will probably severely weaken the army even if it does not wipe out the entire army. When our army begins to cross over by force, the artillery power they can use will be ignored."
"Comrade Commander, I wonder what time tomorrow we will start shelling the German fortifications on the other side?"
"Let me look at nine o'clock." Sokov said: "It is already bright at that time, and the visibility of both the artillery and the air force is the highest."
At nine o'clock in the morning the next day, six SU-76 self-propelled artillery fired at the German positions on the west bank. The shells roared across the wide river, landed on the land on the west bank and exploded. While making an earth-shattering explosion, it lifted a
A pillar of mud rising into the sky. A German firepower point was unfortunately hit by an artillery piece. Fragments of logs, human body parts and weapon parts were thrown in all directions by the blast of air.
At the beginning, the German army had not recovered yet. They never dreamed that the Soviet army would actually take the initiative to bombard their positions. It was not until the self-propelled artillery on the east coast fired five or six rounds that the German artillery organized a counterattack.
The first target they attacked was the location where the self-propelled anti-aircraft guns had once stayed. Those fake artillery pieces covered with canvas were blown to pieces in their artillery fire.
Seeing that the German artillery had fallen into the trap, Sokov said to Sidorin: "Chief of Staff, call General Potapov and tell him that the German artillery has fallen into the trap and tell him not to be stingy with the shells and give me a hard blow."
We must bombard the German artillery positions and try to cripple them."
While Sidorin was on the phone, he also picked up the phone on the table and called the front army headquarters to confirm the air force matters.
When Rokossovsky heard Sokov's voice, he immediately guessed the purpose of his call and asked with a smile: "Misha, have the Germans taken the bait?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Sokov quickly replied: "I first used several self-propelled artillery to bombard the German positions on the other side. I successfully angered the Germans and asked them to use artillery to bombard our fake artillery positions.
"I have ordered General Potapov to use artillery fire to bombard the German artillery positions. In order to cause the enemy's artillery to suffer greater losses, I hope my superiors will let the air force dispatch to bomb the exposed German artillery positions."
"Don't worry, Misha." After Rokossovsky waited for Sokov to finish speaking, he smiled and said to the microphone: "I have already made an agreement with General Vershining, the commander of the 4th Air Force Group Army, to let the two
A flight group is on standby, and they can set off immediately if you need them."
"Comrade Marshal, now we need the cooperation of the Air Force." Sokov said: "Please let the Air Force attack immediately."
"Well, no problem. I'll call General Vershining immediately and ask him to dispatch the two flying groups on standby."
After ending the call with Sokov, Rokossovsky picked up another high-frequency phone, dialed a number, and said to the operator: "I'm Rokossovsky, pick up the number for me.
General Vershining of the 4th Army."
The call was quickly connected, and Vershining's voice was heard from the receiver. Rokossovsky said to him: "General Vershinin, Mischa's 48th Army is currently fighting the German troops on the West Bank.
The artillery launches a bombardment. The two flying regiments you have prepared can attack. I hope you can destroy more German artillery, so that on the day of the attack, when our troops cross the river, the enemy's artillery will not be able to inflict huge damage on us.
of casualties."
"Understood, Comrade Marshal." Vershining waited for Rokossovsky to finish and immediately added: "I personally led a bomber formation to attack the German artillery positions on the west bank. I assure you,
As long as there are exposed artillery pieces, I will destroy them all one by one."
After listening to Vershining's statement, Rokossovsky smiled slightly, and then told the other party: "General Vershinin, I wish you victory and great results. Although the German army has lost the control over the Oder River,
You have control of the air, but you must also pay attention to safety and make sure you return safely."