The stubborn German defense outside Danzig frustrated the Soviet attempt to seize the city in one fell swoop. After two days of fierce fighting, the Soviet troops, who were the main attackers, barely managed to carve a way to the city in the German defenses.

Knowing that the vanguard had stormed the city, Batov felt that he should immediately report the matter to his superiors. He dialed Rokossovsky's phone and respectfully reported: "Comrade Marshal, our vanguard has entered the city and is engaged in street battles with the enemy, I wonder if it is possible to put the Polish tank brigade into battle?" ”

"Wait a little longer, General Batov." The bitter battle outside Danzig made Rokossovski understand that the German troops holding on to the city, unable to break through because they were caught in a closed circle, were fighting a trapped beast, and if the Polish tank brigade was rushed into battle, the casualties would be unbearable. Therefore, he said cautiously: "The strength of the Polish tank brigades is limited, and if they are thrown into battle too soon, I fear that they will not be able to hold out in the final victory, and the whole army will be destroyed." ”

Seeing Rokossovski's refusal to put the Polish tank brigade into battle, Bartov was not angry, after all, in his mind, he had always regarded this friendly army as a soy sauce role, and in the battle to liberate Danzig, there were not many of them, and their participation in the war was just out of political considerations. He asked tentatively: "Comrade Marshal, then tell me when they should be thrown into battle?" ”

Rokossovsky stared at the map of the city of Danzig in front of him for a while, and said into the microphone: "General Batov, tell your subordinates to find a way to control this section of the road from Gaomen to Golden Gate as soon as possible, as well as the adjacent streets nearby. My idea was to have the Polish tank brigades start the battle from the Nagato position, rush to the Long Square, and then let your troops take over their offensive. How, is there a problem? ”

As the commander of the main attack, Batov was very familiar with the terrain in Danzig. According to the available information, it is only a few kilometers from Long Street to Long Square, and on this section of the road, except for some barricades and barricade fortifications, the Germans do not have any strong fortifications, not to mention tank brigades, even infantry brigades, which can complete the breakthrough in a short time.

Thinking of this, he hurriedly replied: "There is no problem, Comrade Marshal. I will immediately order the besieging troops to open a safe passage for the comrades of the Polish army and cover their smooth entry into battle. ”

Mei Rican had been paying close attention to the offensive and defensive situation of the city, and when he learned that the vanguard of the Soviet army had broken through the outer defenses of the German army and had reached the entrance to the city, the High Gate, he could no longer hold his breath. He personally ran to Batov's command and could not wait to make a request to the general to participate in the battle.

And Batov, who had just ended the call with Rokossovsky, said to him with a smile after hearing Mei Rican's request: "General Mei Rican, I understand your current mood very well, but the time is not yet ripe, and you still need to wait." ”

"What, we're going to keep waiting?" When Mei Rican heard Batov say this, he immediately became anxious: "General Batov, our troops have been waiting outside the city for two days, when will they wait?" In this battle to liberate the ancient cities of Poland, it was the Soviet Red Army that fought with the enemy, while our Polish army, standing behind and doing nothing, how will we face the Polish compatriots in the cities in the future? ”

Feyeninsky, who had never spoken, heard the anger in Mei Rican's tone, and hurriedly came out to play a round: "General Mei Rican, it's not that we don't want you to participate in the battle, but the time is not yet ripe, and we have no right to let this army be consumed in brutal street fighting. ”

"In order to liberate the cities of the motherland, even if it is a big price, we will not hesitate." Mei Rican said proudly: "As long as we can enter the battle, even if we fight to the last man, we will fight bravely." ”

"General Mei Rican, I have never doubted the heroism and bravery you showed on the battlefield." "But if your brigade loses a lot of money in street battles, or even annihilates its entire army, how will we deal with the Polish people after we have captured the city?" Will they think that we are deliberately draining your strength to rush you into battle in the hardest of the fighting conditions? ”

Batov's words stunned Meycan, and after a long while, he muttered: "I think our compatriots should be able to understand that in order to liberate this ancient Polish city, we are willing to pay no matter how big the price is." ”

For Mei Rican's pale and weak explanation, Bartov smiled bitterly, and then said: "General Mei Rican, I want to establish the Polish people, and I hope that after the German army in the city is wiped out, they will see an army that belongs to them and appear in front of them in formation. ”

Mei Rican could not refute this statement of Batov, and he knew very well in his heart that after the battle, there was a big difference between whether it was an organized armored force or a unit with heavy losses that appeared in front of the Polish residents. Therefore, after pondering for a long time, he asked weakly: "Then General Batov, I can ask when my troops will be able to enter battle." ”

Faced with this question, Batov took a map of the city of Danzig, spread it on the table, and then said: "General May Rican, according to the instructions of Comrade Marshal, our troops will attack the city, and after we have completely controlled the streets from Gaomen to Kinmen, you will enter the battle from this area. Your combat area is from Nagato to Nagashi. Once your tanks have reached the Long Square, stop their advance and deploy defenses there, leaving the rest of the battle to me and General Fedyuninsky's troops. ”

After listening to Batov's words, Mei Rican understood that this must be Rokossovsky's instructions, and his heart was very moved, and he didn't know what to say for a while.

Batov raised his hand and gently patted him on the shoulder, and said kindly: "General Mei Rican, don't worry, when our troops have cleared the enemy from Gaomen to Kinmen and completely controlled this area, it will not be too late for you to enter the battle." At that point, we can deploy more troops in the city, and even if your attack is blocked, we will be able to provide you with strong support and crush the enemy's resistance. ”

Seeing that Batov had already said this, if he still didn't appreciate it, he would inevitably be a little ignorant. He quickly straightened up and respectfully said to Batov: "Thank you, General Batov. I will immediately return to the troops, and the commanders and fighters will be ready for battle, waiting for your order to attack. ”

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