As the fighting in the city on the east bank came to an end, he was ordered to take over the defending 204th Infantry Division and march along the streets towards the Gdansk Bridge over the Vistula River. The citizens of Warsaw, who were hiding at home, did not dare to come out of their hiding places, although they heard the sound of gunfire outside. Only a few bold citizens, hiding behind their windows, secretly looked at the Soviet troops marching through the streets.

These commanders and fighters who entered the eastern city of Warsaw thought that they would see the citizens of Warsaw welcoming them on both sides of the city streets. But soon they found that the streets were empty on both sides, and the occasional citizen who came out of the ruins stared at the procession in the middle of the street with a numb expression and a dull gaze.

The huge contrast between reality and propaganda gave some of the 204th new fighters a sense of loss. A young soldier in a brand-new military uniform asked the veteran soldier with medals on his chest next to him: "Hey, I said veteran, didn't the commissar say at the pre-war mobilization meeting that as soon as we entered Warsaw, friendly Warsaw citizens would welcome us on both sides of the street, holding flowers?" But if you look at it, there's hardly anyone on either side of the street. ”

The old soldier turned his head, glanced at the little soldier with some anger, and said angrily, "Didn't you hear the sporadic gunfire in the city?" This is the last stubborn resistance of the remnants of the enemy, and the citizens do not come out, probably fearing that they will be hit by stray bullets. Wait and see, as soon as we have cleared the city of enemies and pushed away those who are trying to retake it, the citizens of Warsaw will pour into the streets to welcome us. ”

The little soldier was about to refute a few words, but the platoon commander heard someone in the queue talking, so he walked over quickly and whispered to the two: "Quiet, don't you know that the march is underway?" The little soldier quickly shut his mouth and silently followed the troops onwards.

…………

While the troops of the 65th Army were sequentially entering the city of Warsaw from the east, Rokossovsky and Terekin went by car to the headquarters of the 16th Army of the Air Force. Since the section leading to the air force station was under the control of the Soviet troops, Rokossovsky did not travel in an armored car, as in the past, but in only two jeeps, in which he and Terekin sat in the front car, and four guards sat in the back.

As the jeep passed through a dense forest, Rokossovsky suddenly saw a long line appear in front of him. When he saw that the uniforms worn by those soldiers belonged neither to the Soviet army nor to the Polish army, but to the dark green military uniform that the German army often wore, he instinctively reached for his pistol, ready to fight the oncoming German army.

Before he could take out his pistol, Terekin, who was next to him, said excitedly to him: "Comrade commander, look, there are a lot of German prisoners of war in front." If I'm not mistaken, prisoners of war from Warsaw. ”

Hearing Terekin's words, Rokossovsky realized that he was a little nervous, how could such a large group of enemies appear in his own defense zone and not be detected. In order not to let Terekin discover his nervous expression, he removed his hand from his waist, reached into his pocket, took out a pack of cigarettes, and asked Terekin: "Comrade Military Commissar, do you smoke?" ”

Terekin, who was looking out the window, did not notice the strange expression on Rokossovsky's face, and replied casually: "No, Comrade Marshal, I have had a little cold these two days and cannot smoke. ”

"Yes, yes, if you don't say it, I almost forgot. You've had a cold for a few days and you're coughing badly. With that, Rokossovsky slipped the cigarette back into his pocket.

"Stop, stop!" The fighters escorting the prisoners of war saw the oncoming jeep and hurriedly stopped the captive team and drove them to the side of the road to make way for Rokossovsky and them.

As the jeep passed by the POW procession, Rokossovsky carefully observed the German POWs and found that most of them, with the exception of a few with curious expressions on their faces, looked at the jeeps passing in front of them, and most of them had insensitive expressions on their faces.

"Did you see that, Comrade Marshal?" Terekin sneered and said to Rokossovsky: "These captives have a look of insensitivity on their faces, you know, they were not like this before. At that time, they were victors, arrogantly trampling the cities of Europe and plundering the occupied countries. They were covered in blood, ashes and ruins everywhere they went on the land of our country. They boasted to the whole world that they were invincible, but that was before they met our fighters, and many believed their lie. ……”

Terekin and Rokossovsky were talking, and before they knew it, they came to the location of the Rudenko command. The officer on duty outside, as soon as Rokossovsky's car stopped, immediately stepped forward and opened the door for him.

After Rokossovsky got out of the car, he looked around and saw a lot of jeeps and motorcycles parked in the parking lot, so he asked the officer curiously: "Comrade Captain, are you in a meeting today?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Hearing Rokossovsky's question, the officer hurriedly replied: "Comrade Commander is calling a meeting of division commanders inside. ”

Rokossovsky, led by the officer, walked into the building where the headquarters was located, went up to the second floor, and walked down the long corridor to the door of the conference room. A major sitting behind the table at the door saw Rokossovsky coming, quickly stood up and saluted, and then without waiting for Rokossovsky's command, he took the initiative to step forward and open the door of the conference room.

Rudenko, who was convening a meeting of the division commanders, saw that the door of the room was suddenly opened from the outside, and was about to ask what was going on, but saw Rokossovsky and Terekin walking in from the outside, and hurriedly got up to greet him: "Hello, Comrade Marshal, welcome to us!" ”

Rokossovsky walked to the center, raised his hands and pressed down, and said to everyone: "Everyone sit down." After everyone sat down, he looked at Rudenko and asked, "Comrade General, what are you holding a meeting?" ”

"Comrade Marshal," Rudenko replied with a quick smile: "Our army has occupied the entire city of Warsaw, and I am discussing with the division commanders whether it is necessary to send flying formations to secure the crossings of the Vistula. ”

"Why not, General Rudenko?" As soon as Rokossovsky waited for Rudenko to finish speaking, he immediately continued: "Although the city of Warsaw has fallen into the hands of our troops, the two landing sites we have established south of Warsaw are still within the strike range of the German air force and artillery, and the air force must provide them with the necessary air support......

The meeting ended half an hour later, and after the division commanders had left one after another, Rokossovsky said to Rudenko: "Comrade General, arrange a plane for me and the military commissar, and we will go to the skies over Warsaw to see it." ”

"What, Comrade Marshal, are you going to the skies over Warsaw?" Rokossovsky's words frightened Rudenko enough, and he hurriedly persuaded: "Although our army has occupied Warsaw, there are still German air defense positions near the city of Warsaw, and I have no right to put your life in danger." ”