Rudenko's order to bomb the bomber formation to bomb this exposed German command was purely a whim. He couldn't do this to make Rokossovsky breathe out the evil in his heart.

As for Rudenko's approach, Rokossovsky is naturally happy to see it come true. If the command of the German army is destroyed, the command system of individual units of the German army will be paralyzed, and then it will become very advantageous for the operation of the Soviet army.

However, when he spoke with Rudenko, he also deliberately emphasized: "General Rudenko, in addition to bombing the German headquarters, you also have an important task, that is, to send fighter groups to protect the crossings of the Vistula River occupied by our troops. ”

"Comrade Commander, please rest assured." After listening to Rokossovsky's order, Rudenko immediately replied: "I will send two flying groups of fighter planes to patrol the skies over the Vistula River all the time to cover the actions of our troops in crossing the river and building bridges. ”

In addition to the offensive along the Vistula, which was temporarily halted by order of the Supreme High Command, the fighting east of Warsaw was raging. A section of the 48th, 65th, and 70th armies launched one attack after another against the German defensive positions east of Warsaw.

Although the Soviet commanders and fighters fought very bravely and tenaciously, Rokossovsky received the same battle report: "We are attacking the German positions, and our fighters are very heroic in the battle." "The enemy, relying on strong fortifications, carried out a stubborn defense, successfully preventing the advance of our troops." ……

Seeing this series of depressing intelligence, Rokossovsky couldn't help but smile bitterly. There were several army groups under his command, but they were scattered in wide frontal battles, and it seemed increasingly impossible to deal a heavy blow to the Germans.

So much so that by the evening of the same day, Malinin proposed to Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, you can't fight like this anymore, our commanders and fighters are too tired, they need to rest." ”

Orel, the director of the armored corps, also added: "Comrade commander, at the moment the losses of our army's tank units are also very large, each tank brigade is left with forty to fifty tanks, and the tanks replenished to us in the rear are very few and very slow. If we do not have the assistance of a large number of tank units during the attack, our infantry will not necessarily achieve the desired results, even if they pay heavy casualties. ”

"Where is our tank repair station?" After listening to Orel's words, Rokossovsky frowned and asked: "Can they repair the damaged tanks on the battlefield for us?" ”

"There's nothing wrong with repairing battle-damaged tanks." Orel nodded and said, "Our maintenance personnel can get most of the battle-damaged tanks back into battle in the shortest possible time." At this point, he paused for a moment, and then continued, "But the repair base is still in Minsk, Belarus, hundreds of kilometers from us." Back and forth, it took at least a week to repair some of the damaged tanks. ”

"Comrade Orel, it is inappropriate for the tank repair base to be so far from the front line." As soon as Rokossovsky waited for Oryol to finish speaking, he immediately emphasized to him: "Immediately order the tank repair base to move forward, at least into the area of the Brest fortress, to shorten the distance between the repair base and the battlefield." ”

After listening patiently to what Rokossovsky said, Orel looked at the commander of the engineering corps Proshlyakov on the side and said: "Comrade Marshal, the tank maintenance base needs to be relocated, and General Proshlyakov needs to have the final say. ”

What Rokossovsky needed was high efficiency, because he did not go around in circles, but asked Proshlyakov bluntly: "Comrade commander of the engineering forces, I don't know when the tank repair base will be relocated near the Brest Fortress?" ”

"Comrade Marshal, this is not very easy." Proshlyakov said with some embarrassment: "As far as I know, all the maintenance bases are racing against time to repair battle-damaged tanks. Once the relocation was carried out, a lot of work had to be stopped......"

"Enough, General Proshlyakov." Rokossovsky didn't wait for him to finish, then interrupted his later words and said to himself: "We have more than one tank repair base, you can let them move to the vicinity of the Brest fortress in batches, so that the repair work of the tanks will not have much impact." ”

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Hearing Rokossovsky say this, Proshlyakov dared to refute it, and hurriedly nodded and agreed: "I will notify the tank repair base in the rear as soon as possible and move it in batches." ”

"General Proshlyakov," Rokossovsky was afraid that he would not be satisfied, and specially reminded him: "Even if we don't move now, we will move in the future." If the tank repair base is still in Minsk, when we attack Berlin, we can't let the transport department go all the way to the rear to repair the damaged tanks. ”

After giving all the tasks, Rokossovsky casually asked: "Does anyone have any problems?" ”

As soon as his words fell, General Zakharkin, the deputy commander whom he had completely ignored in recent times, stood up and said to him: "Comrade Marshal, I would like to say two words. ”

Rokossovsky nodded at him and said politely: "Please, General Zakharkin!" ”

Zakharkin said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Marshal, as far as I know, you plan to increase the number of troops in Warsaw to four divisions in the near future. ”

"That's right," Rokossovsky, although he did not know the purpose of Zakharkin's question, replied truthfully: "I am going to send the troops of the other two divisions to Warsaw in a few days." ”

"Comrade Marshal," General Zakharkin, having confirmed the news from Rokossovsky, continued: "There are four divisions in the city, but there is not a single corps commander, which leads to the lack of unified command of the troops. If our troops had fought separately in Warsaw, I fear that sooner or later they would have been crushed by the Germans. ”

Zakharkin's words made Rokossovsky realize that he had neglected this most important matter, and hurriedly asked humbly: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I don't know who you think should be sent to Warsaw to command these troops?" ”

"Comrade Marshal," Zakharkin said with a sincere attitude, looking at Rokossovsky, "if you agree, I am willing to go to Warsaw to command these troops." ”

Remembering Zakharkin's poor record near Kiev, as well as his indecisive character, Rokossovsky almost rejected him outright. But seeing that the other party was looking at him with sincere eyes, he relented a little, so he nodded and said, "Okay, General Zakharkin, I agree." I will arrange a plane to transport you to Warsaw as soon as possible. ”

Seeing that Rokossovsky agreed to his request, Zakharkin could not help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief, and he continued: "Comrade Marshal, I have one more request. ”

"Say, General Zakharkin." Rokossovsky said lightly.

"The four divisions in Warsaw consume an astronomical amount of ammunition every day, and I hope that you will continue to supply us with ammunition and supplies by various means." General Zakharkin feared that his request would be rejected by Rokossovsky, so he made a point of emphasizing: "As long as we can ensure sufficient ammunition and supplies, we can nail it into the city of Warsaw like a nail, without retreating a single step." ”

"Don't worry, General Zakharkin." When Rokossovsky heard that this was the case, he immediately agreed without hesitation: "We will provide you with ammunition and supplies on time, and you will discuss this later, with General Antipinko, the Minister of Logistics." ”

…………

In the evening, Zakharkin successfully entered the city of Warsaw on a transport plane carrying supplies. And under the guidance of the soldiers, they came to the Vlanov Palace and met the two division commanders Vargin and Galitsky here.

Seeing the deputy commander of the front, General Zakharkin, suddenly appear in his headquarters, Vajin was taken aback, and after he came over to salute the other party, he asked in surprise: "Comrade deputy commander, why did you come to us?" ”

"Hello, Comrade Wakin." While shaking hands with Vakin, Zakharkin explained to him: "Marshal Rokossovsky intends to send two more divisions of troops to the city to strengthen your forces. That's why they sent me to the city to take command of the troops of these four divisions. ”

After a brief pleasantry, Zakharkin then asked: "What is the current situation?" ”

"Not very well, Comrade Deputy Commander." Pointing to the map spread out on the table, Vakin introduced to General Zakharkin: "In order to hold back the onslaught of the Germans, we had to abandon some unfavorable areas for defense and concentrate all our forces in the Mokotuv district, near the Vistula River. The enemy is pressing on us from the west and north, and we are currently under great pressure. ”

After reading the map, Zakharkin nodded silently, and then said: "Yes, from the current situation, your situation is indeed not good. If the troops of the other two divisions do not arrive in time, then you may be driven out of Warsaw by the Germans. ”

Speaking of this, Zakharkin suddenly remembered that in Vakin's report, he mentioned that due to Komorovsky's fanning of the flames, some of the Krajov troops who had cooperated with him also turned their guns and beat themselves.

"Comrade Marshal," General Zakharkin, having confirmed the news from Rokossovsky, continued: "There are four divisions in the city, but there is not a single corps commander, which leads to the lack of unified command of the troops. If our troops had fought separately in Warsaw, I fear that sooner or later they would have been crushed by the Germans. ”

Zakharkin's words made Rokossovsky realize that he had neglected this most important matter, and hurriedly asked humbly: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I don't know who you think should be sent to Warsaw to command these troops?" ”

"Comrade Marshal," Zakharkin said with a sincere attitude, looking at Rokossovsky, "if you agree, I am willing to go to Warsaw to command these troops." ”

Remembering Zakharkin's poor record near Kiev, as well as his indecisive character, Rokossovsky almost rejected him outright. But seeing that the other party was looking at him with sincere eyes, he relented a little, so he nodded and said, "Okay, General Zakharkin, I agree." I will arrange a plane to transport you to Warsaw as soon as possible. ”

Seeing that Rokossovsky agreed to his request, Zakharkin could not help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief, and he continued: "Comrade Marshal, I have one more request. ”

"Say, General Zakharkin." Rokossovsky said lightly.

"The four divisions in Warsaw consume an astronomical amount of ammunition every day, and I hope that you will continue to supply us with ammunition and supplies by various means." General Zakharkin feared that his request would be rejected by Rokossovsky, so he made a point of emphasizing: "As long as we can ensure sufficient ammunition and supplies, we can nail it into the city of Warsaw like a nail, without retreating a single step." ”

"Don't worry, General Zakharkin." When Rokossovsky heard that this was the case, he immediately agreed without hesitation: "We will provide you with ammunition and supplies on time, and you will discuss this later, with General Antipinko, the Minister of Logistics." ”

…………

In the evening, Zakharkin successfully entered the city of Warsaw on a transport plane carrying supplies. And under the guidance of the soldiers, they came to the Vlanov Palace and met the two division commanders Vargin and Galitsky here.

Seeing the deputy commander of the front, General Zakharkin, suddenly appear in his headquarters, Vajin was taken aback, and after he came over to salute the other party, he asked in surprise: "Comrade deputy commander, why did you come to us?" ”

"Hello, Comrade Wakin." While shaking hands with Vakin, Zakharkin explained to him: "Marshal Rokossovsky intends to send two more divisions of troops to the city to strengthen your forces. That's why they sent me to the city to take command of the troops of these four divisions. ”

After a brief pleasantry, Zakharkin then asked: "What is the current situation?" ”

"Not very well, Comrade Deputy Commander." Pointing to the map spread out on the table, Vakin introduced to General Zakharkin: "In order to hold back the onslaught of the Germans, we had to abandon some unfavorable areas for defense and concentrate all our forces in the Mokotuv district, near the Vistula River. The enemy is pressing on us from the west and north, and we are currently under great pressure. ”

After reading the map, Zakharkin nodded silently, and then said: "Yes, from the current situation, your situation is indeed not good. If the troops of the other two divisions do not arrive in time, then you may be driven out of Warsaw by the Germans. ”

Speaking of this, Zakharkin suddenly remembered that in Vakin's report, he mentioned that due to Komorovsky's fanning of the flames, some of the Krajov troops who had cooperated with him also turned their guns and beat themselves.