Burning Moscow

Chapter 1662 floating ice

As time entered December, what we were worried about finally appeared.

A large number of floating ice appeared in the Vistula River, and the continuous large ice blocks continued to move downstream along the river. Because these ice cubes would crush the boats carrying supplies, the shipping work had to come to a halt.

Some bold and impatient people couldn’t wait to line up on the pontoon to pass, so they took the penny in their hands and crossed the Vistula by jumping from one ice block to another.

At the beginning, we did not support or oppose this phenomenon, but after two consecutive accidents caused casualties, we had to send a patrol along the river to resolutely stop this risky behavior.

If the ice floes only threaten the safety of the ferry, we can still transport the supplies to the front line through the pontoon bridge. After all, after Zhukov took office, we erected three pontoon bridges on the river for tanks and artillery to pass. But the high-speed moving ice on the water threatened the safety of the bridge. One of the pontoons was broken into three pieces from the middle due to constant impacts from the ice. A tank battalion was crossing the river with four tanks and one. An oil tanker fell into the cold Vistula River, resulting in the tragedy of ten soldiers being killed and five missing.

After the incident, Zhukov summoned us to discuss countermeasures. He said with a serious expression: “Comrades, if we allow the ice on the Vistula River to continue hitting our pontoon bridges, it won’t be long before these pontoon bridges will be broken one after another. I want to hear, what can you do? Method?”

The first speaker was the military commissioner Terekin: “Comrade Marshal, I think we should erect a few large iron pillars on both sides of the river, and pull iron chains on the pillars to stop the ice floes down the river. .”

“Comrade Military Commissioner, this method of yours is not good.” As soon as Terekin proposed the “railway to block the river” plan, it was rebutted by Malinin: “Don’t say that we can’t find a one-kilometer chain. The iron chain is tied to the river surface, and it cannot stop the ice floes down the river. Because those ice floes are not only floating on the water surface, but the part that sinks under the water almost flows close to the bottom of the river. Their huge inertia It will break the iron chain that we finally pulled up.”

“What should we do then?” Terekin said dissatisfied: “Are we just watching the ice floes, destroying our pontoon bridges over the Vistula River one by one?”

After hearing the argument between the two of them, Zhukov turned his attention to me, and seemed to be able to get the answer he needed from me: “Lida, if you are asked to deal with this matter, what are you going to do?”

“Comrade Marshal,” I replied with a wry smile to Zhukov’s question: “I had considered this issue as early as a month ago. Unfortunately, I did not find a good solution. In order to prevent cross-strait relations, It was interrupted by the floating ice that appeared on the Vistula River, so I opened up the’air supply line’ in a whimsical way.”

“The air supply line can only replenish the weapons and ammunition and various military materials needed by the troops,” Zhukov said without changing his face after listening to me. “But for heavy equipment like tanks and artillery, it can’t complete the transportation. Suppose. If the traffic on both sides of the strait is really interrupted by the ice floes, we can only wait until the thickness of the ice on the river surface is thick enough for the tank troops to pass, then the armored troops can be moved across the river again.”

Seeing everyone at a loss, I suddenly thought of Cuikov, and quickly said to Zhukov: “Comrade Marshal, I think that instead of sitting here and thinking of a solution, it is better to give Magnusev and Pulawy two landing sites. The commanders called and asked if they could do anything good.”

Due to the erection of several pontoon bridges on the Vistula River, the speed at which we gather troops at the Hexi Landing Field has been greatly accelerated. So far, it has increased to four armies. So Zhukov nodded after listening to my proposal, and then asked: “Then who do you think we should call first to ask for advice?”

“I think I should call General Cuikov. He is very mindful, likes to delve into problems, and is good at summing up experience.” I said clearly to Zhukov: “In the defense of Stalingrad, we and the people on the east bank of the Volga River Traffic was once interrupted due to ice floes on the river. I believe that since General Cuikov has such an experience, he should have countermeasures against the ice floes on the Vistula River.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the phone on the desk rang suddenly. Malining picked up the phone and listened for a while, and then handed it to Zhukov. At the same time, he smiled and said, “Comrade Marshal, this is really a coincidence. We just said to call Cui Kefu, so he called first.”

Zhukov took the microphone and said loudly in his ear, “Hey, is it Cuikov? This is Zhukov. Are you calling the front army headquarters, is there anything important?”

“Comrade Marshal,” I heard Cui Kefu say loudly in the receiver: “One of our pontoons was hit by ice floes, causing some casualties. In order to avoid similar incidents from happening again, I would like to make a suggestion to you. ”

“Cui Koff, if you have any suggestions, just let me know.” Zhukov said generously: “We are about to call you to discuss how to deal with the ice floes on the Vistula River.”

“Comrade Marshal,” Cui Kefu may have already finished the draft. Hearing Zhukov’s question, he immediately replied without hesitation: “We should mobilize all engineers and road troops to protect the bridges. Each pontoon is equipped with two to three bridges. A blasting company and a road battalion, and set up a repair team…”

“Wait a minute, Comrade Cui Kefu.” Hearing this, Zhu Kefu couldn’t help interrupting Cui Kefu, “What do you mean by that?”

“Please listen to me patiently, Comrade Marshal.” Cui Kefu continued: “The commander near each pontoon bridge must have a 120mm mortar company to blow up large ice floes on the river; Tie these blasted ice floes to steel cables and tow them ashore with cars or tractors.”

After listening to Cui Kefu’s proposal Zhukov only thought for a moment, and then decisively said: “Comrade Cui Kefu, your proposal is good, just follow the method you said. You first put the guards eighth. The engineers and road units of the group army are used. As for the direct-administered units of the front army, I will arrange for the chief of staff to be transferred to you as soon as possible.”

In the current situation, preventing ice floes on the Vistula River from crashing into the pontoon bridge is the primary task, so after Zhukov put down the phone, he immediately ordered Malinin to transfer the engineers and road units belonging to the Front Army to the Vistula River. In order to destroy the large ice floes on the river, in addition to sending several 120mm mortar companies, he also mobilized two 2mm caliber cannon regiments to go to the river to bombard the ice floes down the river.

By the next morning, Zhukov called Cuikov and Kolpakchi again and asked about the ice floes on the river. The two commanders replied with relief: “Comrade Marshal, it’s hard to see a large piece of ice on the river. Floating ice, our pontoon bridge is kept, and various vehicles are constantly passing the pontoon bridge.” For mobile phone users, please browse and read for a better reading experience.

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