Before the battle began, Rokossovsky waited for the air force to come with a reconnaissance report. After reading the report, he looked up and asked Bogolyubov, who sent the report: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what is the fast-moving unit mentioned in the report?" ”

Hearing Rokossovsky's question, Bogolyubov, who had already read the report, knew what he meant by the report that "there are some fast-moving units moving in the direction of the Glaudenz Fortress" and hurriedly explained to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Marshal, according to my understanding, it should be the motorized detachments of the German army, and they are in front of the breakthrough fortress troops, performing the tasks of pathfinding and reconnaissance. ”

"It seems that the enemy who came out of the fortress of Thorn wanted to flee to the Glaudenz area and join the enemy there." After Rokossovsky finished speaking, he picked up the high-frequency phone on the table, dialed a number, and ordered the operator: "Pick me up from the headquarters of the 65th Army." ”

After the phone was connected, Rokossovsky asked Batov, who answered the phone, bluntly: "General Batov, have the enemies in the Glaudenz Fortress, which you are besieged, have any recent actions?" ”

"Comrade Marshal, I am preparing to report to you." Batov, who has always been slow to speak, said in a bit of a hurry today: "Half an hour ago, the German troops in the fortress suddenly sent out tanks and infantry to launch an attack on our army, and the battle is currently underway. ”

Knowing that the Germans in the Glaudenz fortress had launched an attack on their own initiative, Rokossovsky hurriedly asked: "Batov, in which direction are your troops deployed, which are attacked by the Germans?" ”

"South-west, Comrade Marshal." Batov hurriedly replied.

"Sure enough, it's southwest," Rokossovsky, after listening to Batov's report, looked at the map in front of him, and said secretly in his heart: "It seems that the enemy who broke through from the fortress of Thorn is trying to rush to the Glaudenz area and join the enemy there." ”

Thinking of this, he hurriedly said into the microphone: "General Batov, the German troops in the Thorn Fortress began to break through this morning, and according to the report of the air force reconnaissance, their direction of action may be in the Glaudenz area. ”

"Comrade Marshal," Batov, after listening to Rokossovsky's words, suddenly understood in his heart why the German troops, who had been cowering in the fortress, attacked their defensive positions as if they were crazy, and he hurriedly replied: "Please rest assured, we will repel the German attack as soon as possible and crush their attempts to divide the division." ”

"Comrade Marshal, Comrade Marshal." Just as Rokossovsky had just finished his call with Batov and was about to put down the phone, a communications officer suddenly rushed in from outside, and he shouted: "Telegram, urgent telegram from the 48th Army." ”

Hearing that it was an urgent telegram, Rokossovsky's heart could not help but chuckle, and secretly said that something was also going on in the direction of Elbin? He hurriedly took the telegram and carefully examined its contents. This sight startled Rokossovsky: the Germans cobbled together at least 7 infantry divisions and 1 tank division to carry out a surprise attack from the Herlsberg area in the direction of Elbin.

Rokossovsky guessed that Gusev, fearing that his army group would not be able to hold back this large group of enemies who were eager to move westward, sent him this urgent telegram, hoping to get some support. He handed the telegram to Bogolyubov and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you look at this telegram and then tell me what you think." ”

Bogolyubov, who was confused, took the phone, only glanced at it, and a surprised expression appeared on his face. Still, he struggled to control his emotions and read the urgent telegram sent by Gusev. "Comrade Marshal," he expressed his opinion as soon as he put down the telegram, "and from the analysis of all indications, the Germans, in order to cope with the breakout forces of the fortress of Thorn, are acting at the same time in two areas in order to contain the living forces of our army, so that we cannot draw more forces to stop the fleeing enemy. ”

Rokossovsky's simultaneous actions in several directions left Rokossovsky feeling that the situation was confusing, and that his troops could suffer an unexpected defeat if they could not respond properly. He stared at the map and thought for a while, then said, "General Gusev is an experienced commander, and since he has sent an urgent telegram, it proves that the danger he faces is indeed not small. We can't do nothing, we need to do something to help him. Chief of Staff, record my orders. ”

Bogolyubov hurriedly took out a pen and paper and prepared for the record. I only heard Rokossovsky say: "Immediately mobilize the 5th Guards Tank Army, the 8th Tank Army, and the 3rd Guards Cavalry Army to rush to the aid of Gusev and help him block the enemy coming from the east." At the same time, Fedyuninsky of the 2nd Shock Army was ordered to temporarily suspend military operations near Erbin and to turn the troops near and south of the city to the east to consolidate the defensive line of the 48th Army. ”

Rokossovsky waited for Bogolyubov to finish recording, then stretched out his hand to him and said: "Show it to me." ”

Bogolyubov hurriedly handed over the notebook in his hand, and after reading the above contents, Rokossovsky added: "I also want to tell these generals that even if the Germans break through the defense line of our army in some sections, they should also do everything possible to organize the German army to approach the Vistula River." With that, he handed the notebook back to Bogolyubov, "immediately give the order." ”

While Rokossovsky was issuing a barrage of orders from the headquarters, the troops of the 70th Army launched an attack on the fortress of Thorn. After a short period of artillery preparation, the troops deployed on the south side of the fort launched the attack first, and their task was to gain a foothold in the southern fort and quickly seize the railway bridge over the Vistula River that divided the northern and southern forts of Thorn, so that heavy tanks remaining outside the fort could storm the northern fort through the iron bridge.

The commander in charge of directing the attack, after the battle began, unexpectedly found that the resistance in the fortress was extremely weak compared to the previous days, except for a few machine guns blocking the attack road, the resistance in other sections was simply negligible. Seeing this, he couldn't help but wonder a little: what happened to the Germans, could it be that when the artillery fire was prepared, the fierce sound of the artillery had not been able to wake them from their sleep?

However, the resistance is not strong, but it is a good thing for the attacking troops. Only half an hour later, the commanders and fighters of one regiment successfully stormed the southern fortress and fought the German troops holding on to it layer by layer. Compared with the last time they rushed here, the German resistance was not so resolute, often with a shuttle of machine gun fire or a grenade thrown at it, and the enemy inside voluntarily laid down their arms and surrendered.