Burning Moscow

Chapter 1679 Change

In the evening, while a salute was fired on the Red Square to celebrate the liberation of the city of Lodz, Lieutenant General Rezhov, commander of the 28th Guards Corps, called and said that his troops had surrounded Poznan and asked Cuikov for instructions. What should I do next?

“I need to talk about it, Comrade General.” Cuikov was overjoyed when he heard that the troops had surrounded Poznan, so he did not hesitate to order Rezhov: “Immediately organize forces to attack the residential areas of Poznan and try Capture the city while on the move.”

I am a bit disapproving of Cui Koff’s order. Although there is no record of the liberation of Poznan in my later memories, I understand that it is not easy to seize this fortress city. However, Cui Kefu gave such an offensive order in such an understatement, which is too underestimation of the enemy.

However, considering that Cui Kefu is the commander of the 8th Guards Army after all, in order to maintain his authority, he cannot easily intervene when giving combat orders to his men.

But my worries soon became reality. When it was dark, Rezhov called Cuikov again, and he said in a frustrated tone: “Comrade Commander, I’m sorry, our attack on Poznan ended in failure. Up.”

Rezhov’s report was obviously unexpected by Cuikov. After a long silence, he asked: “Comrade Rezhov, if I remember correctly, General Katukov’s 1st Guards Army was deployed in the city. Nearby, don’t they provide support for you?”

“No, Comrade Commander.” Rezhov replied very simply, “I once called General Katukov in person and asked for his support, but it was rejected.”

Hearing this, Cui Kefu couldn’t help frowning, and then said in a dissatisfied tone: “I know. Comrade Lei Ruofu, let the troops stop and rest first. If you have anything to do, wait until tomorrow.

After putting down the phone, Trikov said angrily: “Leda, this General Katukov is too outrageous. Since his troops are stationed near Poznan, even if only one tank brigade is sent to cooperate with the guards. The 28th Army launched an attack on the city, and maybe we could all occupy one or two streets in the city.”

“I’ll call General Katukov and ask what is going on.” I was also very uncomfortable with Katukov’s act of standing on the sidelines, and quickly ordered the Director of Communications: “Here is I immediately connected to the headquarters of the 1st Guards Tank Army, and I want to talk to General Katukov.”

When I heard Katukov’s voice in the earpiece, I pressed angrily and asked: “General Katukov, I heard that the 28th Guards Army once asked you for help when it attacked Poznan. But you refused their request. Is there such a thing?”

“Yes, there is this.” Katukov said without concealment: “It was a call from the commander of the army, General Rezhov himself, but I still refused his request.”

After listening to Katukov’s answer, I felt that the reason why he did not send the tank brigade to support it might be because of other internal information, so I tentatively asked: “Comrade General, can you tell me the reason for your rejection of General Ryzhov? ”

“Lida,” Katukov replied calmly: “The streets of Poznan are too narrow. After our tanks enter the city, we can only march all the way in columns. Once the Germans destroy the leading and last tanks, then The long queue of tanks can only be placed on the street and become a target for German anti-tank fighters.”

“It turned out to be like this.” After I figured out why Katukov was unwilling to send tank troops, my mood became more relaxed. It turned out that it was not that he could not help but the streets in the city were not conducive to tank troops. Join the war. I considered that even if I could not participate in the siege battle, the entire Guards Tank Army could not stay outside the city and do nothing, so I continued to ask: “Then what are you going to do next?”

“Since our troops cannot participate in the battle to conquer Poznan,” Katukov said confidently: “Then I will direct the troops to continue to advance west, and strive to cross the Oder River before the Germans can organize effective resistance. And build a wide landing field on the opposite shore.”

Although Katukov’s proposal is bold, it is very maneuverable. So I waited for him to finish and immediately said: “Well, General Katukov, now that you have a detailed plan, Then let the troops take a good rest tonight and wait until dawn tomorrow before leaving.”

Cui Kefu saw me put down the phone, and quickly asked me for instructions: “Lida, tell me, what should we do next?”

Although I have never seen what the fortress in Poznan is like, I can guess that it must be a place that is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Instead of consuming troops and time here, it is better to leave a part of the troops for siege, and the rest of the troops. Continue to advance deep into the German defenses and approach the Oder River.

I pointed to the map and said to Trikov: “General Trikov, you left the 28th Guards Corps and besieged the Poznan Fortress. The rest of the troops bypassed the city and followed Katukov’s 1st Guards Tank Army and continued to advance westward. , Move closer to the Oder River…”

Before I finished speaking, the phone in front of Cui Kefu rang. He picked up the microphone and put it in his ear and said loudly, “Hey, I’m Cui Koff, where are you?” After a while, he straightened up and respectfully said, “Yes, Comrade Marshal, my troops have already taken Poz The south was surrounded. Because the city streets were narrow and tanks could not be used, our action to seize the city while on the move failed.”

After briefly reporting the situation to Zhukov, he handed me the microphone and said in a low voice: “Lida, Comrade Marshal has something to ask you.”

After I answered the phone, I heard Zhukov asking me: “Lida, what are your plans for the next step?”

“Comrade Marshal,” I replied, staring at the map in front of me, “Since our army cannot put tanks in Poznan, the siege battle will be a relatively long process. I think so, instead of spending money here. With a lot of time and troops engaged in siege operations, it is better to leave a part of the troops to siege the city, while the main force of our army continues to advance quickly westward, rushing to the Oder River, and pushing the war to the German mainland.”

“Lida, this plan of yours coincides with my idea.” Zhukov waited for me to finish, and said with satisfaction: “Just do what you said, leave a force to besiege the city, and the rest of the main force will continue. Fast forward to the west, striving for our troops to go to the German mainland as soon as possible.

After putting down the phone, I happily said to Cui Koff: “General Cui Koff, Comrade Marshal has agreed with me, leaving a force to besiege the German army in Poznan, and the rest of the main force continues to advance westward to fight for an early victory. The war is pushed to the German mainland.”

Then, I discussed with Trikov and some members of the headquarters about the troops who were left to besiege Poznan. It was finally decided that in addition to the 28th Guards Corps of Rezhov, two tank brigades, three artillery regiments, and one guards rocket brigade would remain.

Just as Trikov took the order drafted by Chief of Staff Vladimirov and was about to sign, the phone before him rang again. Cui Kefu picked up the phone and listened, then smiled and said, “Comrade Marshal, we just drafted an order to march on Oder River, and we are preparing to report to you.”

Unexpectedly, I heard Zhukov’s stern voice from the receiver: “Comrade Cuikov, the situation has changed. Before the troops can advance to the Oder River, Poznan must first be taken down.”

Cui Kefu’s smile froze on his face. After a long time, he asked in a flustered manner: “Comrade Marshal, what is going on? Didn’t you just agree that we should leave a part of our troops to besiege the enemy, and the main force will go to Austria? Go ahead, why did you change your mind after less than an hour?”

Zhukov did not answer him, but asked him to hand over the phone to me. After I answered the phone, I repeated Cui Koff’s question again, and finally emphasized: “Comrade Marshal, if we leave our troops to attack Poznan, it will inevitably consume a lot of troops, weapons and ammunition, and it will also cause delays. Less time. The Germans will definitely use this time to strengthen defenses along the Oder River. At that time, if we want to cross the Oder River, we will have to pay no small price.”

“In addition to being an important industrial city, Poznan is also an important hub for railways and roads.” Zhukov said dryly: “If our army can’t occupy here, then we can only bypass Poland for the transportation convoy on the front line. Znan, this pair will affect the speed of replenishment ahead.”

From Zhukov’s speech, I heard that it was definitely not his intention to stop the troops from advancing westward, but the meaning of the higher-level leaders, so I tentatively asked: “Comrade Marshal, please be forgiving, is it the Supreme Commander’s subordinate? What order is there.”

Zhukov snorted and said: “Lida, you can’t hide anything from you. Comrade Stalin disagrees with our war plan, thinking that if we go out to the Oder River too early, we will fight Rokosoffs. The Belarusian Second Front of the Russian Army opened the distance. He ordered us to wait, at least until Rokosovsky’s troops ended the Battle of East Prussia and the main force of the troops crossed the Vistula before continuing towards the Oder. Advance.”

Zhukov’s words made me realize that if we want to enter the German mainland, it is far from enough to rely on our front army. We also need the vigorous cooperation of the left and right wings. So I asked carefully: “How long do we have to wait?”

“At least ten days.” Zhukov explained to me: “Because our army is advancing too fast, not only is Rokosovsky’s troops too far away from us, even Konev’s troops cannot continue to advance at this time. And from the left to ensure the safety of our flank, because they want to concentrate their forces to clear out the German forces in the Silesian industrial zone.”

“Comrade Marshal,” I waited for Zhukov to finish, and immediately expressed my opinion to Zhukov: “I personally think that if we stop the offensive, then the Germans will consolidate the defense in the Messeritz to the west, and wait for us to take it. When Poznan continues to advance westward, we will pay a huge sacrifice in order to seize this fortified area.”

“If the main force of the front army continues to advance westward, how should our right wing guarantee it?”

Regarding Zhukov’s question, I said confidently: “As long as the Supreme Command can strengthen a group army for us, then the security of the right wing can be guaranteed, so that we can use this great opportunity to continue to advance westward and break through the German army. Messeritz built a fortified area and arrived at the Oder River.”

“I said the same to Comrade Stalin.” Zhukov said helplessly: “After he listened, he only said that he had to think about it, and then there was nothing to follow.”

“Then what should we do now?” I tentatively asked Zhukov: “Do you really stop the troops from advancing west and prepare to attack Poznan right here?”

“You have to prepare with both hands. One is to leave the troops to besiege the fortress, and the main force will continue to advance westward, break through the Messeritz fortification area, and push the Oder River.” Zhukov said to me: “The other kind of preparation is troops Stop moving forward, when will you take Poznan, and when will you continue to move westward.”

After finishing the conversation with Zhukov, I began to carefully consider what I should do next. It is a pity that in the memory of later generations, I don’t know what happened in Poznan. If you want to make the right decision, you can only make a thorough analysis based on the information you have.

Cui Kefu understood my way of thinking about problems, so he sat quietly and did not speak, but patiently waited for me to make a final decision. After a long period of thinking, I made a decisive decision: “General Cuikov, according to the decision we just made, left a small number of troops to besiege Poznan, and the main force continued to advance westward, passing through the German May Serlitz built a fortified area and reached the Oder River.”

“Lida, didn’t Marshal Zhukov just said, let us stop the westward advance, concentrate our forces to take down Poznan first Cui Kefu kindly reminded me: “If he knows we defy him The consequences are very serious. ”

“Don’t worry, General Cui Kefu.” I saw Cui Kefu look forward and backward, and quickly comforted him: “I believe that Comrade Marshal will also agree to our deployment. Therefore, we must not go wrong in the process of advancing westward, otherwise it will be right. It’s not a good thing for you and me.”

“The situation, what can happen?” Cui Kefu asked puzzledly.

“General Trikov, come and see.” I pointed to the map and said to Trikov: “Now Katukov’s Guards Tank Army is not far from the Meseritz fortification area, and the armored forces are advancing very fast. I I am worried that if they go deep alone, they may also fall into the encirclement of the Germans. Therefore, I ask you that when General Katukov’s troops break through the German defenses, your troops will be able to occupy the fortification area of ​​Messeritz in time. Yes. Can you do it?”

“I think it shouldn’t be a big problem.” Cui Koff said in an uncertain tone: “The Messeritz fortification area was built by the Germans to prevent the Polish army from attacking. After they occupied Poland, Work was once suspended. They didn’t start to rebuild these fortifications until they saw the bad situation last year. I think they have a limited number of weapons and troops deployed in the fortifications. We should not have much problem in breaking through their defenses.”