Rokossovsky was very happy to learn that the 47th Army was going well, and he put down the phone and said to Malinin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, it seems that Gusev's troops will only need one or two days to break through the defense zone of the Skeleton Division, rush to the Magnushev landing field, and join Chuikov's troops. ”

"Chuikov's situation is not good. Regardless of the fact that they had an army group, most of the divisions were weakened in the battle for the capture of Warsaw, and it was very difficult to hold a defensive front up to 25 kilometers wide. Hearing Rokossovsky's words, Malinin said with a serious expression, "If General Gusev's troops cannot join forces with the Eighth Guards Army in one or two days, then Chuikov's troops are in danger of being driven into the Vistula by the enemy." ”

"Give me access to the headquarters of the Eighth Army." After waiting for Malinin to give a brief briefing on the situation of the Eighth Guards Army, Rokossovsky said to the head of the signal corps, Maksimenko: "I want to talk to Chuikov. ”

However, the telephone of the Chuikov command was not answered for a long time, and Rokossovsky asked Maksimenko with dissatisfaction: "Comrade Chief of the Communications Corps, why has the phone not been connected?" ”

"Comrade Marshal," Maksimenko replied with a little nervousness, wiping the sweat from his forehead, "General Chuikov's headquarters line is too busy to be connected for the time being, please wait a moment." ”

Malinin was reading a battle report from the 69th Army, and when he heard Maksimenko say this, he couldn't help frowning, he put down the battle report and walked to Rokossovsky's side, and said in a low voice: "Comrade Marshal, the delay in getting in touch with General Chuikov is something happening there?" You must know that they fought not only against the Viking Division, but also the German 17th and 45th Infantry Divisions. ”

Just when Rokossovsky and Malinin were depressed because they couldn't contact Chuikov, they suddenly heard Maksimenko say with relief: "Comrade Marshal, General Chuikov's phone has been connected, and he is waiting for you online." ”

Rokossovsky reached out and picked up the phone in front of him, and said into the microphone: "Chuikov?" I'm Rokossovsky, what happened just now, why can't your command be contacted? ”

"That's right, Comrade Marshal." Chuikov heard that Rokossovsky was in a bad mood, and hurriedly explained to him: "Not long ago, the Goering division launched a fierce attack on us, and the 11th Guards Tank Brigade suffered heavy losses in the battle, although I promptly sent Lieutenant Colonel Ogroblin's heavy tank regiment to support, but it was still unable to crush the enemy's offensive ......"

As soon as Chuikov said this, Rokossovsky interjected and asked: "Comrade Chuikov, I listened to your tone very relaxed, presumably you have repelled the Goering division, tell me about your results." ”

"Yes," Chuikov replied in a relaxed tone, "and just when the two sides were at a stalemate, it was General Mezhcan who led the Polish tank brigade into battle, thus turning the tide on the battlefield. In particular, the commander of the Polish tank brigade No. 212 tank, Ensign Pawlitsky, was calm in the battle, and after destroying a German tank, the tank under his command continued to rush to the German position, crushing two anti-tank guns and a machine gun position, greatly weakening the strength of the German army......"

The result of the elimination of two anti-tank guns and a machine-gun position may not seem great, but in the case of a stalemate between the enemy and us, it can lead to a change in the strength of both sides, which will turn the situation in their favor. Rokossovsky thought of this and said into the microphone: "General Chuikov, the soldiers of the Polish army are all good, and you can repel the attack of Goering's division, and they are indispensable. You immediately report the outstanding tank crews of the Polish tank brigades, and I will award them the honor they deserve. ”

After waiting for Rokossovsky to put down the phone, Malinin kindly reminded him: "Comrade Marshal, should you first consult with Comrade Military Commissar about such a thing as awarding honors to tank crews of friendly armies, and then give such an order to General Chuikov after obtaining his consent?" ”

Rokossovsky waved his hand and said resolutely: "I am the commander of the front army, and the Polish First Army was originally under my command, and it is up to me to decide whether or not to award medals to the commanders and fighters of this unit." ”

As soon as his words fell, he heard a voice not far away: "Comrade Marshal, what is up to you?" Malinin looked in the direction from which the voice came, and saw Military Commissar Terekin standing at the door with his hands behind his back. Ma Lining hurriedly greeted the other party with a smile: "Comrade Military Commissar, you are back!" ”

"It's back!" Terekin said, stepped forward to shake hands with Rokossovsky, and said with a solemn expression: "Comrade Marshal, what you said, I just heard it at the door. I feel that in recognition of the achievements of the Polish soldiers, they should indeed be given the credit they deserve. ”

Seeing Terekin's unconditional support for him, Rokossovsky suddenly smiled, he held the other party's hand tightly, shook it a few times, and said excitedly: "Thank you, Comrade Military Commissar." I believe that the awarding of the Medal of Honor to these fighters will greatly boost the morale of the commanders and fighters of the Polish First Army and increase their combat effectiveness. This will be very beneficial for the series of battles we will have in the future. ”

Terekin reminded Rokossovsky: "Comrade Marshal, since the Polish tank brigade has made such great contributions in the battle for the defense of the Magnushew landing ground, should you communicate with General Behringer and let him know it too." ”

"That's right, comrade military commissar, you reminded me right." Rokossovsky thought that even if he wanted to award the medal to Mezhcan's troops, he would have to go through Behringer, the commander of the army group, so this kind of thing must be communicated with him in advance, so he quickly picked up the phone and asked Maximenko to connect with the headquarters of the Polish First Army.

Behringer was overjoyed when he heard that Rokossovsky planned to award the medal to Mei Rican's tank brigade, and after thanking him again and again, he said modestly: "Comrade Marshal, thank you for the honor you are about to confer on our commanders and fighters, and I believe that in the next battle, all the commanders and fighters of our Polish First Army will be able to better cooperate with the Soviet Red Army to defeat the fascist invaders." ”

Rokossovsky considered that the tank troops under the command of Chuikov had few tanks left in the long-term engagement, so he discussed with Behringer: "General Behringer, Chuikov's defense area is in great need of tank troops, and several of his tank brigades have been exhausted in the battle. You see, is it possible to temporarily assign the tank brigade of General Mei Rican to the command of Chuikov? ”

Although Rokossovsky's request made Bellinger embarrassed, he thought that the marshal had just mentioned that he wanted to award his tank brigade a medal, and if he refused, it might make the other party unhappy. Therefore, after a short period of weighing, Behringer said briskly: "Okay, Comrade Marshal, I obey your order and let General Meycan's tank brigade temporarily give command to General Chuikov's Eighth Guards Army. ”