Although in order to carry out the offensive in East Pomerania, Su Bojing led a group of political workers to be active in the grassroots troops every day, publicizing the commanders and fighters, calling on them to establish new meritorious deeds. This kind of political propaganda work can indeed play a role in rallying the morale of the troops and boosting morale, but in the end, it is the strength and equipment of both sides that will determine the outcome on the battlefield.

In the face of the powerful Soviet offensive, the Germans fought stubbornly, and Himmler constantly organized troops to carry out counterattacks in different sections in an attempt to drive the Soviet army out of East Pomerania. By 19 February, the 65th, 49th, and 70th armies, which were attacking north-west, had advanced less than 70 kilometers and barely reached the Mene, Cherek, and Hojnice areas.

Watching the German resistance become more and more stubborn, and their own troops have shown a weak offensive posture. In this situation, Rokossovsky clearly understood that it was almost impossible to destroy the German army in East Pomerania on his own.

Therefore, he called Zhukov, told him all about the difficulties faced by his current troops, and finally asked: "Comrade Marshal, in order to destroy the enemy in the East Pomeranian region, it is not enough to rely on the strength of our front, but also the cooperation of friendly forces. Can you help us with the necessary assistance? ”

Before Zhukov answered the phone, he had just given an order to Malinin to stop the march on Berlin and move to the defense on the spot. Hearing Rokossovsky say this at this moment, he hurriedly covered the microphone and asked Malinin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, Rokossovsky needs our support, tell me how many troops we can draw out to cooperate with friendly forces." ”

After recalling the situation of the right flank troops in his mind, Malinin replied: "Comrade Marshal, at the moment we can draw the following troops: General Katukov's 1st Guards Tank Army, the 1st Polish Army, and the 2nd Guards Cavalry Army, so that they can hand over the defense of the Oder to friendly neighboring troops, and then march north to Antsward in East Pomerania to fight with Marshal Rokossovsky's troops. ”

Zhukov nodded and let go of the hand covering the microphone: "Comrade Rokossovsky, I will transfer Katukov's tank army, Behringer's Polish army, and the 2nd Guards Cavalry Army as soon as possible to East Pomerania to cooperate with you." ”

"It's great." Rokossovsky was overjoyed to learn that the tank army under the command of Katukov would also rush to East Pomerania to participate in the operation, and in his mind, Katukov was the commander of the best tank unit in the Soviet army, although he was not under his command now, but as soon as his troops came to East Pomerania, he could increase the assault capability of the troops. "When will they arrive?"

"There may be some delay as they also have to hand over their existing defensive lines to friendly forces." Zhukov replied: "But by three days at the latest, they will be able to reach Antsvad." ”

After Rokossovsky finished the call with Zhukov, he called Bogolyubov over and said to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, in a few days, Marshal Zhukov will send several troops to fight with us. You immediately form a liaison group that will be used to coordinate the operations of the two armies. ”

"Comrade Marshal," Bogolyubov waited for Rokossovsky to finish speaking, and hurriedly asked, "I wonder what troops the First Front will send us?" ”

Rokossovsky had previously been the commander of the 1st Front, and the names of these units naturally came out of his mouth: "Katukov's 1st Guards Tank Army, General Behringer's 1st Polish Army, and the 2nd Guards Cavalry Army." ”

After recording the numbers of the troops that were about to arrive in East Pomerania, Bogolyubov cautiously said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Marshal, even if the First Front sends these troops to support us, it will be an extremely difficult task for us to clear the enemy of East Pomerania. ”

"Chief of Staff, what do you want to mean?" After listening to Bogolyubov's words, Rokossovsky looked up at him and asked: "Didn't I ask the Supreme Command to send us new troops?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Bogolyubov nodded and said affirmatively: "I think we should ask the Supreme Command to add two or three more armies to us, so that we can complete the attack on East Pomerania in the shortest possible time." ”

For Bogolyubov's proposal, Rokossovsky felt that he would give it a try, so he picked up the high-frequency phone on the table, directly dialed the General Staff in Moscow, and after hearing Antonov's voice, he said straight to the point: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, I am Rokossovsky, I am currently experiencing a little difficulty, I hope to get your help." ”

"Comrade Marshal, I was about to look for you, but I didn't expect you to call first." Antonov said on the phone: "The Supreme Command has just made a decision to transfer the 19th Army of Major General Kozlov, as well as the 3rd Guards Tank Army of General Panfilov, in order to strengthen the offensive forces of your Front in East Pomerania. They will reach the junction between you and the First Front within a week. ”

Although the Supreme High Command gave only one army group, plus a tank army, which was far from the replenishment that Rokossovsky wanted, it was better than nothing. He said to Bogolyubov: "Chief of Staff, order the troops to temporarily stop the offensive and move to the defensive on the spot. ”

Rokossovsky's words took Bogolyubov by surprise: "Why? ”

"When the 19th Army and the 3rd Guards Tank Army arrive, our defense line will be readjusted." Rokossovsky explained to Bogolyubov: "If our existing forces are entangled with the enemy, it will be a very troublesome thing to readjust the area of operations......"

But before he finished his words, Military Commissar Su Bojing hurriedly walked in from outside. After he sat down in the chair opposite Rokossovsky, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and said: "Comrade Marshal, we have encountered a headache, the roads with tanks and artillery are crowded with refugees, they have been deceived by the *** elements, thinking that after our army occupies these cities, they will also rob their belongings, as well as kill those who have cooperated with the *** elements, so they have chosen to flee their homes. ”

Su Bojing's words reminded Rokossovsky that in the early days of the war, the choice made by the Soviet people in the face of the *** army approaching the city was also to flee the city. Unexpectedly, in the thirty years in the east of the river and in the thirty years in the west of the river, the feng shui took turns, and now it is the turn of the Germans to abandon their homeland and escape.

He looked at Su Bojing and asked, "Do you have any good solutions?" ”

"The armies should be asked to form working groups to persuade these fleeing Germans to return home. As long as they are willing to go home, then our path will not be crowded with refugees. After Su Bojing finished saying this, he suddenly remembered another thing, and hurriedly added: "By the way, there is also military discipline." Comrade Marshal, I feel the need to emphasize the issue of military discipline once again, because I have already been reported that there have been incidents of soldiers robbing the valuables of the Germans, and the parties involved have been brought under the control of the relevant authorities. I don't think we can spare this black sheep in the military. ”