After the refugees were stopped by a group of heavily armed soldiers, someone shouted in the crowd: "They are going to throw us to the Russians!" ”

It was as if the words had stabbed a hornet's nest, and the already panicked refugees exploded, carrying their luggage and rushing forward crying and screaming, completely ignoring the black muzzles of the guns in the hands of the soldiers.

Many of the refugees who stormed the cordon were Poles, but many more were Germans who had lived in East Prussia for generations. If the civilians of the hostile country dared to rush into the cordon like this, the soldiers would have already started firing with submachine guns without waiting for the order of the commander. But now that they were confronted with their own compatriots, the soldiers looked a little flustered, and they stepped back step by step, casting inquiring glances at the commander behind them.

The soldiers were embarrassed, and the officers were not much better. The order he received was to stop the refugees and prevent them from moving with the army, so as not to reveal the direction of the main force's movements. Now I saw the refugees rushing up in recklessness, trying to break through the cordon formed by their own soldiers, and the soldiers were squeezed back step by step by the refugees.

The officers knew very well that as soon as the refugees broke through the cordon, they would inevitably rush in the direction of the transfer of troops, and then the movement of the troops would be detected by Russian reconnaissance planes. Thinking of this, he raised his gun and fired three shots into the air. The sudden sound of gunfire gradually quieted down the rioting refugees.

Seeing that the scene was temporarily under control, the officer pushed aside the two soldiers standing in front of him and yelled at the frightened refugees: "We don't take you away because we don't want you to put you in danger." You must know that during our march, we will definitely be constantly bombed by Russian planes, and since you follow us, you will not only slow down our march, but also risk your life at any time. Therefore, for your safety, you should stay here. The Russian army will come soon, but they will not embarrass you. ”

After saying this, the officer waved at his subordinates and said, "Withdraw!" ”

"Mr. Captain," a corporal asked the officer with some concern when he saw the black refugees in front of him, "what if we evacuate and these refugees follow?" ”

"I've said everything I have to say." The officer said helplessly, "If they still want to follow, let them be." Let's withdraw! ”

The officer withdrew with a group of his own soldiers, leaving behind a large group of refugees who were dazed and at a loss. After a while, everyone moved again, and most of the refugees turned around and went to Simon, and only a very small number of people, after repeated ideological struggles, still pursued the retreating army without hesitation.

Lüdek, who led the main force in the center and the 31st Grenadier Division towards Kulm to the north, obtained important information that the 542nd Grenadier Division's defense area was to the west of Kulm, and that as long as the troops could cross the Vistula River from there, they would be able to join up with friendly forces.

After repeatedly confirming the veracity of this information, Lüdek gave orders to all his troops to turn towards Kulm, and after trying to get rid of the pursuing Soviet troops, he quickly crossed the Vistula River and joined up with the 542nd Grenadier Division on the west bank to form a new defensive zone.

Marcus, who was leading the 73rd Infantry Division towards Simon Town, saw that Simon Town had appeared in his field of vision, and was secretly rejoicing in his heart, when suddenly a communications staff officer under his command came to report: "Your Excellency, Division Commander, we have just received a telegram from the commander of the fortress that our crossing point has been changed to Kulm to the north, let us advance there immediately." ”

"Hell, what the hell is going on?" After reading the telegram, Marcus immediately tore it to shreds and said angrily: "Our division has marched twenty kilometers in a hurry, and it is not easy to get close to Simon Town, and the soldiers are exhausted. Who knows that now he has ordered us to rush to Kulm in the north, isn't this a trap for us? ”

The chief of staff hurriedly asked: "Your Excellency, division commander, what should we do now?" Should you go to Simon's Town to rest, or should you immediately turn around and head north towards Kulm? ”

Marcus thought for a moment, then sighed and said, "I think, let's let the troops rest in Simon's Town first." The soldiers were already exhausted by the long and rapid march. If they don't get enough rest, even if we turn north now, I'm afraid that a large number of soldiers will be left behind. ”

After the chief of staff understood Marcus's intentions, he issued an order to the regiments: "All regiments immediately enter Simon Town, seize the time to rest, we have more roads to go." ”

Rokossovsky learned from the Air Force that the Germans, who were trying to cross the Vistula from Simon, had turned around and moved north. He looked at the map and then said to Bogolyubov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, it seems that the Germans are preparing to cross the river from Kulm, north of the town of Simon, and join up with the 542nd Grenadier Division there to establish a new defense. ”

"That's right, Comrade Marshal." Bogolyubov, after glancing at the map, agreed with Rokossovsky's guess: "So what should we do next?" ”

"First send a telegram to General Popov, ordering his troops to speed up their march, to finish the town of Simon as soon as possible, and to destroy the German troops that are still in that area." After Rokossovsky finished assigning the tasks of the 70th Army, he pointed to the location of Kulm, "I will call General Batov again later, and order him to transfer the troops of the 65th Army to the west to attack the German 542nd Grenadier Division and crush the German army's attempt to join forces." ”

"Comrade Marshal," Bogolyubov asked with some concern after listening to Rokossovsky's arrangement: "Will we do this and will it lead to an even greater emptiness of troops in individual sections?" ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Chief of Staff." Regarding Bogolyubov's worries, Rokossovsky said with a smile: "Although the German army in East Prussia seems to have a lot of troops, they have now lost their unified command, and we can break them individually." ”

Rokossovsky pinched his chin, stared at the map on the table, and said thoughtfully: "If we can destroy this German army that broke through from the fortress of Thorn, and then deal with the reinforcements that came out of the fortress of Glaudenz, then there will be few German troops left in East Prussia." Next, we can get Fedyuninsky and Gusev to concentrate their forces and attack Erbin with all their might, taking the city from the enemy. ”