"The purpose of this campaign is clear to all commanders and comrades, and we will officially begin to deploy combat missions next." Bogolyubov continued: "According to the study decision of the head of the front, we will carry out the main assault on the left flank. To this end, we have committed four combined armies and one tank army, which will be divided into two echelons to attack on a section 80 kilometers wide.

The first echelon of the offensive was the 48th Army, the 2nd Assault Army, the 65th and 70th Armies, and the second echelon was the 5th Guards Tank Army. General Panfilov's 3rd Guards Tank Army, assigned to the 48th Army and the 2nd Assault Army, expanded its gains in the main direction of Marienburg; General Oslikovsky's 3rd Guards Cavalry Corps was retained as a reserve for the Front.

In order to guarantee that the campaign is not affected by a possible counter-assault by the enemy from the north, we will deploy two army groups here: Borkin's 50th Army, which will be carried out on a wide frontage along the Augustov Canal from Augustov to Lomza; Gorbatov's 3rd Army was deployed north of Ruzhan in a denser battle formation. Their task is to pin down the enemy in front of them by active actions and not to allow these forces to move in the direction of our main assault.

General Grissin's 49th Army, which was deployed in the area as the second echelon, was tasked with plunging into the battlefield in a timely manner as the troops of our army on the right flank advanced in order to rapidly expand the results of the battle. ……”

Bogolyubov had a very good memory, and he did not look at the battle plan drawn up at all, and he clearly explained the tasks that each unit should be responsible for. From time to time, he used the commentary stick in his hand to point to the map and introduce the location of the enemy's fortifications to the commander who accepted the mission, as well as the various kinds of support that the unit could receive in battle......

After waiting for Bogolyubov to finish, Rokossovsky stood up and asked simply and directly: "Do you have any questions?" ”

After his words, there was a silence in the room, and then Batov stood up and first asked Rokossovsky some details that he needed to know.

While Rokossovsky was answering a question to Batov, Grissa approached Fedyuninsky, called the other party's nickname, and asked in a low voice: "Ivan, what is the task of the front command for our army group?" ”

Hearing Grishin's question, Fedyuninsky couldn't help but look at him strangely, and said in his heart: When the chief of staff is assigning tasks, is your mind deserting? Still, he answered truthfully: "According to the order, your army group will be deployed on the right flank of the Front troops as the second echelon. ”

Grischen asked Fedyuninsky not because he did not hear the task assigned by Bogolyubov, but because he wanted to make sure that he had heard it wrong. Having received an affirmative answer from Fedyuninsky, he abruptly stood up and said to Rokossovsky, who was talking to Batov: "Comrade Marshal, allow me to ask a question, why put my 49th Army on the right flank, without a fight, as the second echelon? ”

There were quite a few commanders in the conference room, who were talking in whispers, ready to wait for Batov to finish asking questions before asking Rokossovsky. But at this moment, hearing Grischen's question, the whole room was silent.

Hearing Grishin's question, Rokossovsky's brows furrowed, and he asked rhetorically with some dissatisfaction: "Lieutenant General Glishin, do you have any disagreement with this arrangement of the Front Command?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Marshal." As soon as Glishin's question came out, he realized that he shouldn't ask such a question, and quickly explained: "I think it should be clear to you that among the armies to which the Front belongs, only my 49th Army and General Fedyuninsky's 2nd Shock Army are close to full strength, and the rest of the army groups are only about 60% full. I think it would be more effective if our group army was also used in the main assault direction. ”

"Nonsense, it's nonsense." Subotin, who was sitting next to Rokossovsky, heard Glishin say this, slammed the table, and said angrily: "General Glishin, I think it is necessary to remind you that you are only a commander of the army group, not the commander of the front. What your troops are placed in is entirely based on the needs of the campaign......"

"Comrade Military Commissar, don't get angry." Rokossovsky interrupted Su Bojing on the side and said politely: "Let me explain the reason to him." ”

After appeasing Su Bojing, Rokossovsky looked at Grischen and said: "General Glishin, it was my decision to arrange your group army on the right flank as the second echelon. The reason for this is precisely because you are an almost full army. At this point, he deliberately paused for a moment to observe Grischen's expression, and when he saw the other party's look of surprise, he added, "Borkin's 50th Army and Gorbatov's 3rd Army are barely equal to yours in terms of strength. As soon as they enter a stalemate with the enemy, I will immediately throw you into battle in order to break the stalemate that may be formed and turn the situation on the battlefield in favor of our army. I say that, do you understand? ”

After Rokossovsky's explanation, Grischen immediately realized that he was a little too impulsive, and he quickly replied with a red face: "I'm sorry, Comrade Marshal, it was my mistake. I didn't take into account the overall situation, I only thought that my troops were placed in a secondary direction, and as the second echelon, I was very anxious in my heart......"

"Although the offensive of our army, it is mainly concentrated on the left flank." Before he could finish his sentence, Rokossovsky interrupted him again: "But it does not mean that the right flank is a secondary direction, and if the attack on the left flank is unfavorable, we may turn more forces to the right flank." Until the new forces are put in place, your army group will be the backbone of the right flank. After saying this, Rokossovsky asked the other commanders, "Who still has a problem?" ”

As soon as his words fell, many people raised their hands, including the commander of the army group, as well as the commander of the army and the commander of the division, and everyone wanted to ask Rokossovsky the questions they had already prepared.

When calm returned to the conference room, Military Commissar Su Bojing stood up, holding a piece of paper in his hand, and said to everyone: "Commanders, comrades, I will now read to you the letter of the Military Committee of the Front Army to all the commanders and fighters!" ”

Hearing Su Bojing say this, all the commanders, including Rokossovsky, got up from their seats one after another.

"In accordance with the order of the headquarters of the Supreme High Command, the units of the 2nd Belorussian Front will switch to a decisive offensive on January 12 to crush the enemy who dares to resist." Su Bojing's loud voice echoed in the conference room: "...... The 3rd Belorussian Front, in conjunction with General Chernyakhovsky, completely occupied the East Prussian region.

…… Fight bravely in the region, glory belongs to the brave and fearless!

…… Fight, fight to the death with the enemy, our valiant warriors! Until the complete elimination of all fascist bandits in the world......

…… Let the banner of Lenin fly high forever! ”

Amid the shouts of "Ula", Rokossovsky loudly announced: "Comrade commanders, this is the end of today's meeting. Everyone went back to their troops and hurried to make the final preparations before the attack. ”