The city of Warsaw on the west bank of the Vistula River had completely fallen into the hands of the Soviet army, completely cutting off the retreat of the German army on the east bank. After receiving this exciting news, Rokossovsky was really ecstatic.

While the commanders and fighters in the command were shouting "Ula" in a hurry, Rokossovsky was thinking about whether he would temporarily abandon his plan to punish himself if he reported the good news to Stalin. He knew very well that in real history, in two months, Zhukov would take over the command of the First Front, and he himself would be transferred to the Second Front, where he would be responsible for the strategy of the East Prussian region.

Military Commissar Terekin shouted at the top of his voice with the commanders and fighters, and when he saw Rokossovsky sitting on the side and pondering, he leaned over and asked curiously: "Comrade commander, what are you thinking?" ”

Rokossovsky looked up at him and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, I am considering whether I should immediately report the news of the liberation of Warsaw to the Supreme High Command. ”

"Needless to say, of course it should be reported immediately!" As he spoke, Terekin picked up the phone, and when he heard something coming out of it, he said loudly: "I am Military Commissar Teregin, immediately connect me to Moscow, and Comrade Commander should immediately talk to the Supreme Commander himself." ”

When the call was answered, someone secretly said hello, and the entire command became quiet again. Stalin's voice came from the earpiece: "Comrade Rokossovsky, I seem to hear cheers from you." Can you tell me what exactly is going on? ”

"That's right, Comrade Stalin." Rokossovsky carefully chose his words: "Ten minutes ago, I received a telegram from General Zakharkin, who was commanding troops in the city of Warsaw, saying that after several days of fierce fighting, our army had finally taken control of the entire city of Warsaw on the west bank of the Vistula. ”

Hearing Rokossovsky's report, Stalin was silent for a long time, and finally asked: "Comrade Rokossovsky, can you really confirm that the city of Warsaw, on the west bank of the Vistula, is completely under the control of our army?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Stalin, I can confirm it completely." Rokossovsky said in an affirmative tone: "And the four bridges over the Vistula are also intact under the control of our troops. ”

"I congratulate you, Konstantin Konstantinovich!" After receiving Rokossovsky's affirmative answer, Stalin's voice suddenly became agitated: "You have succeeded in taking control of the city of Warsaw on the west bank of the Vistula, not only in military victory, but also in our political control. Since you have a firm grip on Warsaw, it will be up to us to decide which government will enter Warsaw in the future. By the way, you immediately report this news to Antonov, and I will immediately talk to Molotov on the phone to discuss how to continue negotiations with the Polish delegation. ”

After Stalin ended his call with Rokossovsky, he dialed Molotov's office from another phone. After hearing the other party's voice, he said straight to the point: "Is it Comrade Molotov?" I am Stalin, and I have just received a report from the front that our army has completely controlled the city of Warsaw on the west bank of the Vistula River, cutting off the retreat of the German army on the east bank. ”

Although Molotov knew what Stalin said, it was absolutely accurate. But hearing such astonishing news, he was still stunned and instinctively asked: "Comrade Stalin, is this news reliable?" But I haven't received any similar reports, have I? ”

Stalin did not care about Molotov's gaffe, but said with a smile: "Don't worry, Comrade Molotov, this news was just called to me by Rokossovsky. I believe him, and what he says must be true. ”

After confirming that Warsaw had largely recovered, Molotov knew what to do next. He hurriedly asked Stalin for instructions: "Comrade Stalin, shall we immediately have a new meeting with the Polish delegation?" ”

"Yes," Stalin replied unequivocally: "you, in your negotiations, are going to tell Mykolechik that our troops have taken full control of the city of Warsaw." If they wanted to enter Warsaw, they could only cooperate with the Polish National Liberation Committee to form a coalition government and enter Warsaw together. ”

After listening to the tone set by Stalin, Molotov quickly replied loudly: "Understood, Comrade Stalin, I will follow your instructions." ”

While Stalin and Molotov were on the phone, Rokossovsky dialed the General Staff, found Zhukov and Antonov, who were there, and reported to them that Warsaw had been largely recovered. Finally, he took the opportunity to make his request to Antonov: "Comrade Antonov, although our troops have taken control of the city of Warsaw on the west bank of the Vistula, our heavy weapons have not yet been able to reach the other side of the river due to the stubborn resistance of the German troops on the east bank. Once the German army organizes superior forces to carry out a counterattack, it is still unknown whether our army can hold Warsaw. I therefore request that we be resupplied as soon as possible, especially for the fuel and ammunition needed by the Air Force. ”

"I understand, Comrade Rokossovsky." As soon as Antonov waited for Rokossovsky to finish speaking, he immediately expressed his attitude to him: "I will immediately get in touch with the logistics troops and ask them to give priority to providing you with the fuel and ammunition needed by the Air Force, so that our Air Force can gain air supremacy over Warsaw." ”

After the end of the liaison with the Moscow side, Rokossovsky called Malinin to him and said to him: "Chief of Staff, immediately contact the commander of the 70th Army, General Popov, and order him to draw a guard, detour back to the left flank of the 65th Army, and launch an attack in the direction of the Lazienki bridge." Within two days, we must rush to the Vistula River to join the Polish 3rd Division, which was holding on there. ”

While Malinin was on the phone to arrange the assignment, Rokossovsky drafted another telegram to Zakharkin, ordering him to not only hold the four bridges he had occupied, but also to send enough troops to the north and west of Warsaw to establish new defensive positions to prevent a possible German counterattack.

After receiving Rokossovsky's telegram, Zakharkin did not dare to slack off, and hurriedly ordered the 47th Guards Division and the 3rd Polish Division to hold the section along the Vistula, including four bridges; The 27th Guards Division was responsible for the defense to the north, and the 88th Guards Division was to build defensive lines to the west and southwest.

Hitler, who was far away in Berlin, learned that the city of Warsaw had been lost, and immediately roared in his office. He threw everything on the table that could be dropped on the ground, and threatened to shoot all the commanders in charge of holding Warsaw.

After Hitler's attack, Guderian, acting chief of the General Staff, said with trepidation: "My Führer, the Russians occupy only the city of Warsaw on the west bank of the Vistula, and the city on the east bank is still in the hands of our army." ”

Hitler, who had just calmed down, suddenly had another attack when he heard Guderian say this, and he said violently: "Warsaw on the west bank of the Vistula River can be regarded as the real Warsaw." The east coast is nothing more than a suburb of Warsaw, and what is the use of us just occupying these places. Guderian immediately gave Moder an order to organize troops to counterattack Warsaw, and to take Warsaw back for me. ”

"Understood, my Führer." Guderian felt that this was a good opportunity to get out, and quickly nodded and said, "I'll go and give orders to Marshal Moder." ”

Having received the order to retake Warsaw, Moder called Chief of Staff Krebs to his office and asked: "Chief of Staff, how many troops can we transfer to Warsaw today?" ”

Krebs thought for a moment and replied, "Your Excellency, since our troops are engaged with the Russian army, there are not many troops that can leave the battlefield. In a week, at best, two regiments of motorized units could be mobilized, as well as a tank battalion. ”

"No, no," said Moder, shaking his head as soon as he heard what Krebs said, "the Führer ordered us to take Warsaw as soon as possible, and where are these troops?" According to Stagger before we lost contact, the Russians had at least four divisions of troops in the city. Even if our troops are able to fight, there is no chance of victory against four divisions with two regiments. Moreover, the Russians still have hundreds of thousands of troops, which are distributed on the east bank of the Vistula River, and they may cross the river at any time......"

Krebs heard what Moder said, thought about it, and then took the initiative to suggest: "Your Excellency, Marshal, you can call the commander of the 9th Army, General Forman, and ask him to immediately launch an attack from the east bank to contain the Russians. In my estimation, the Russians, in order to hold the bridge over the Vistula, will definitely move the main forces to the river. In this way, the north and west sides of Warsaw became empty, and even if we had only two regiments of troops, we would be able to break through their weak lines and storm into the city of Warsaw. ”

"I understand, Comrade Rokossovsky." As soon as Antonov waited for Rokossovsky to finish speaking, he immediately expressed his attitude to him: "I will immediately get in touch with the logistics troops and ask them to give priority to providing you with the fuel and ammunition needed by the Air Force, so that our Air Force can gain air supremacy over Warsaw." ”

After the end of the liaison with the Moscow side, Rokossovsky called Malinin to him and said to him: "Chief of Staff, immediately contact the commander of the 70th Army, General Popov, and order him to draw a guard, detour back to the left flank of the 65th Army, and launch an attack in the direction of the Lazienki bridge." Within two days, we must rush to the Vistula River to join the Polish 3rd Division, which was holding on there. ”

While Malinin was on the phone to arrange the assignment, Rokossovsky drafted another telegram to Zakharkin, ordering him to not only hold the four bridges he had occupied, but also to send enough troops to the north and west of Warsaw to establish new defensive positions to prevent a possible German counterattack.

After receiving Rokossovsky's telegram, Zakharkin did not dare to slack off, and hurriedly ordered the 47th Guards Division and the 3rd Polish Division to hold the section along the Vistula, including four bridges; The 27th Guards Division was responsible for the defense to the north, and the 88th Guards Division was to build defensive lines to the west and southwest.

Hitler, who was far away in Berlin, learned that the city of Warsaw had been lost, and immediately roared in his office. He threw everything on the table that could be dropped on the ground, and threatened to shoot all the commanders in charge of holding Warsaw.

After Hitler's attack, Guderian, acting chief of the General Staff, said with trepidation: "My Führer, the Russians occupy only the city of Warsaw on the west bank of the Vistula, and the city on the east bank is still in the hands of our army." ”

Hitler, who had just calmed down, suddenly had another attack when he heard Guderian say this, and he said violently: "Warsaw on the west bank of the Vistula River can be regarded as the real Warsaw." The east coast is nothing more than a suburb of Warsaw, and what is the use of us just occupying these places. Guderian immediately gave Moder an order to organize troops to counterattack Warsaw, and to take Warsaw back for me. ”

"Understood, my Führer." Guderian felt that this was a good opportunity to get out, and quickly nodded and said, "I'll go and give orders to Marshal Moder." ”

Having received the order to retake Warsaw, Moder called Chief of Staff Krebs to his office and asked: "Chief of Staff, how many troops can we transfer to Warsaw today?" ”

Krebs thought for a moment and replied, "Your Excellency, since our troops are engaged with the Russian army, there are not many troops that can leave the battlefield. In a week, at best, two regiments of motorized units could be mobilized, as well as a tank battalion. ”

Krebs thought for a moment and replied, "Your Excellency, since our troops are engaged with the Russian army, there are not many troops that can leave the battlefield. In a week, at best, two regiments of motorized units could be mobilized, as well as a tank battalion. ”

"No, no," said Moder, shaking his head as soon as he heard what Krebs said, "the Führer ordered us to take Warsaw as soon as possible, and where are these troops?" According to Stagger before we lost contact, the Russians had at least four divisions of troops in the city. Even if our troops are able to fight, there is no chance of victory against four divisions with two regiments. Moreover, the Russians still have hundreds of thousands of troops, which are distributed on the east bank of the Vistula River, and they may cross the river at any time......"

Krebs heard what Moder said, thought about it, and then took the initiative to suggest: "Your Excellency, Marshal, you can call the commander of the 9th Army, General Forman, and ask him to immediately launch an attack from the east bank to contain the Russians. In my estimation, the Russians, in order to hold the bridge over the Vistula, will definitely move the main forces to the river. In this way, the north and west sides of Warsaw became empty, and even if we had only two regiments of troops, we would be able to break through their weak lines and storm into the city of Warsaw. ”