After more than an hour of fierce fighting, Soviet troops completely captured the Vilanov Palace and Moreshin Park.

When Stargar learned of this bad news, he called Forman again and said anxiously: "General Forman, the situation is not good, the Russians have already established themselves on the Vistula River, and if they are not driven away as soon as possible, the city of Warsaw will not be able to be saved as soon as their large army arrives." ”

Forman, who was under heavy attack by the Soviet army in the defense area, said angrily: "General Stargger, I understand what you mean, but there is no way, the Russians are constantly attacking us, and I can't send more troops here to support you." The reinforcements that had been promised a long time ago were approaching Warsaw as fast as they could, but it would take at least two or three days for them to enter the city. ”

Hearing Foreman say this, Startler's heart sank suddenly: "General Foreman, if there is no intervention from the Russians, I will have no problem holding out in Warsaw for four or five days with the use of my existing forces." But these days, it can be difficult to hold out for two days. See if you can draw some troops from the east coast to strengthen our defenses, lest the Russians cut off your rear. ”

Forman pondered Stagel's remark, knowing that once the Soviets occupied the city of Warsaw on the west bank, they would cut off their way to the west, so he hesitated and seriously pondered whether reinforcements should be sent and where to draw them from.

"What, it's great that our troops have already captured the Vilanov Palace and the Moreshin Park!" When Rokossovsky received Chuikov's report, he was overjoyed. In his memory, the Soviet troops entered Warsaw only in mid-September, but since the Germans were well prepared and superior in forces, the Soviet troops of the Polish 3rd Division and six battalions that rushed into the city of Warsaw had to withdraw from the city in disarray, after suffering huge losses. Now that the troops of the two divisions have managed to enter Warsaw, where the German army is empty, perhaps history will change because of him, he said into the microphone: "Comrade Chuikov, you continue to intensify your offensive at the Magnushev landing field, pin down the enemy, and make it impossible for them to send reinforcements to the city of Warsaw. ”

"Understood, Comrade Marshal, we will hold the enemy back at the Magnushev landing field." Chuikov said to Rokossovsky with some concern: "But even if we hold off the enemy in the south, the enemy in the north, west, and even in the east, it is possible to send troops to reinforce it, and if we want to capture the city of Warsaw, it is estimated that we will need to act in several directions at the same time." ”

"General Chuikov, are you the commander of the Front, or am I the commander of the Front?" Rokossovsky pretended to be unhappy and asked: "How do I do it, do I still need your guidance?" ”

When Chuikov heard Rokossovsky say this, he knew in his heart that the other party must have considered it all, and after laughing a few times, he said: "Don't worry, Comrade Marshal, whether it is the Magnushev landing field or the city of Warsaw, our commanders and fighters will be nailed to the position like nails, and the positions that have been occupied will definitely not be taken away by the Germans." ”

After Rokossovsky put down the phone, he consulted with the artillery commander Kazakov: "General Kazakov, due to the needs of the battle, we have taken Ignatov's breakthrough artillery corps out of the battle sequence of Chuikov's 8th Guards Army and equipped them with Batov's 65th Army. ”

"That's right, Comrade Marshal, that's right." After waiting for Rokossovsky to finish, Kazakov nodded and said: "The reason why we did this is entirely because we can only rely on the four bridges across the Vistula River in Warsaw to transport so many heavy weapons across the Vistula. ”

"Chief of Staff," Rokossovsky turned to call Malinin and instructed him, "you immediately call Romanenko and Bartov and order the 48th and 65th armies to intensify their offensive and keep the enemy firmly pinned down on the east bank, so that they will not be able to send troops to reinforce the enemy on the west bank." ”

"Understood, Comrade Marshal." As soon as Malinin waited for Rokossovsky to finish speaking, he immediately replied with a smile: "As long as the enemy can be pinned down in the current position, I want the city of Warsaw to be taken by us in less than two days." ”

When Malinin came back from the call, Rokossovsky consulted with him: "Chief of Staff, our troops have gained a foothold in the Vilanov Palace and Moreshin Park, you see, what should we do next?" ”

"Comrade Marshal, we have two paths to go next." Malinin pointed to the map and said to Rokossovsky: "One is for them to advance north along Bovsinska Avenue to occupy the Lazienki Palace in order to seize the Lazienki Bridge, through which our heavy weapons can pass and reach the West Bank in a steady stream." ”

"What about the other point?" When Rokossovsky saw that Malinin had finished the first point, he stopped, and stared at himself non-stop, so he urged him: "You can go on." ”

"Another option is for the troops to attack westward along the Vilanov Boulevard to capture the Okinche station in Warsaw." Malinen continued: "It's right next to Warsaw's Okenche airport. Once we have captured the railway station and the airport, then we will be able to transport troops and supplies to Warsaw by train or plane. ”

Rokossovsky thought about the plan proposed by Malinin and felt that even if the railway was damaged by the Germans, as long as the sleepers were not cut into two sections, the engineering troops were fully capable of resuming transportation in a short time. However, when it comes to aircraft transporting troops and supplies, it is not realistic, because the anti-aircraft guns deployed by the German army in the city will shoot down all those low-flying transport planes.

He thought about it for a while, and finally said to Malinin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I think it is better to let the troops go north along Bovshinska Avenue to seize the Vazienki Palace and the Lazienki Bridge. At the same time, let Batov's troops speed up their advance towards the Vistula, and be sure to quickly rush to join them at the river after the 79th Guards Division has captured the Lazienki bridge. ”

"Comrade Marshal," Malinin asked with some concern, "at present the 79th Guards Division and the 3rd Polish Division in the city are not equipped with heavy weapons, and I am afraid that their ability to attack fortifications is not enough to quickly seize the Lazienki Palace and the Lazienki Bridge." As soon as the Germans saw that the situation was not good and blew up the bridge first, then our plan was frustrated. ”

"Even if the Germans blow up the bridge, we don't have to worry about it." Rokossovsky pointed to the location of Moreshin Park and said to Malinin: "We can use this as a landing ground and send our troops across the river one after another with boats and other equipment for crossing the river." Don't forget, there are only 2,000 Germans in Warsaw on the West Bank, and they are currently in the midst of the rebellious army led by the Krajov Army, and they simply do not have enough strength to stop our attack on the city. ”

…………

Rokossovsky's order soon reached the combined command of Vargin and Galitsky through Chuikov. When Vagin saw the telegram, he said to Galitsky: "Comrade Colonel, you lead the troops to hold the Vilanov Palace and Moreshin Park, and I will lead the troops along Bovsinska Street to attack and advance to seize the Vazienki Palace and the Vazienki Bridge. ”

"No, Comrade General." Hearing Vargin say this, Galitsky immediately raised his own objection: "The seizure of the Vilanov Palace and the Moreshin Park is the completion of your troops. Now to seize the Vazienki Palace and the Lazienki Bridge, if it is still up to you to complete it, I am afraid that the commanders and fighters will be emotional. ”

When he saw that Vajin opened his mouth and wanted to say something, he hurriedly raised his hand to stop the other party, and said earnestly: "Comrade General, many soldiers in my army are Warsawians, and if you let friendly troops attack in the battle to liberate Warsaw, and they can only sit and watch the excitement, their hearts will be uncomfortable, and you must know that this is a battle at their doorstep." If you wait until the end of the war and have relatives ask them what they did in the battle for the liberation of Warsaw, how do you ask them to answer? They must not be allowed to say: all the battles were fought by the comrades of the Soviet Union, and we, as reserves, stayed in the rear. ”

Galitsky's words made Varjin reflect. He felt that he was a little too wishful thinking, and always felt that the combat effectiveness of the Polish army was too poor, and he was deeply afraid that they would not be able to use it in the battle for the liberation of Warsaw. But they just forgot that these Polish soldiers were fighting for the liberation of their homeland and hometown, and the fighting enthusiasm and combat effectiveness they showed were definitely beyond their imagination.

Thinking of this, he said apologetically to Galitsky: "Comrade Colonel, I'm sorry that I didn't think it through. In that case, the task of attacking the Vazienki Palace and the Lazienki Bridge will be entrusted to you. However, to be on the safe side, I suggest sending a battalion to assist you in the battle. ”

"We are more than happy to accept help from friendly forces." Galitsky knew that if he did not accede to Vakin's request, he might change his mind, so he readily agreed: "Our troops will fight side by side in the streets of Warsaw. ”

Seeing that Vargin agreed to his request, Galitsky smiled so hard that he hurriedly ordered the chief of staff to let the 7th and 8th regiments attack north along the Boulevard of Povsinska to seize the Vazienki Palace and the Lazienki Bridge, which were entrenched by the Germans. The troops sent by Vajin were the second battalion led by Tsytowsky.

When the troops began to attack, Galitsky asked Vajin a question that he was most worried about: "Comrade General, I wonder when our reinforcements will arrive?" ”

Hearing Galitsky ask, Vargin turned his head to look at him and asked with a smile: "Why, Comrade Colonel, are you worried that we will not be able to defeat the Germans in the city with our existing forces?" ”

Galitsky shrugged his shoulders and replied: "If it were only two thousand Germans in the city, I would not be worried at all. I fear that if we are unable to destroy the enemy in the city, we will be passive when German reinforcements arrive. You also know that our two divisions simply do not have any heavy weapons, and if the enemy's tank units rush into the city, we simply cannot stop them. ”

"Comrade Colonel, you're overthinking." Although Vajin knew in his heart that what Galitsky said was true, in order to prevent unnecessary panic, he still pretended to be calm and said: "As long as we occupy the Lazienki bridge, then the friendly forces on the east bank of the Vistula River will continue to drive over, including a large number of tanks and artillery, and then there will be more German reinforcements, and we will have the ability to completely crush them." ”

Vagin's words immediately filled the commanders of the entire command headquarters with confidence, and everyone said: Yes, we have five or six times more troops than the German army, and they are scattered in a number of strongholds in the city, and we are fully capable of breaking them down, and then the city of Warsaw will fall into our hands like a ripe apple.

The Polish troops of the 7th and 8th regiments rushed north along the Boulevard of Povsinska, but encountered little resistance along the way, mainly because the German army was limited in strength, and the main forces were concentrated in administrative institutions and military positions, and the Polish army encountered only a few small patrols.

Hearing Galitsky ask, Vargin turned his head to look at him and asked with a smile: "Why, Comrade Colonel, are you worried that we will not be able to defeat the Germans in the city with our existing forces?" ”

Galitsky shrugged his shoulders and replied: "If it were only two thousand Germans in the city, I would not be worried at all. I fear that if we are unable to destroy the enemy in the city, we will be passive when German reinforcements arrive. You also know that our two divisions simply do not have any heavy weapons, and if the enemy's tank units rush into the city, we simply cannot stop them. ”

"Comrade Colonel, you're overthinking." Although Vajin knew in his heart that what Galitsky said was true, in order to prevent unnecessary panic, he still pretended to be calm and said: "As long as we occupy the Lazienki bridge, then the friendly forces on the east bank of the Vistula River will continue to drive over, including a large number of tanks and artillery, and then there will be more German reinforcements, and we will have the ability to completely crush them." ”

Vagin's words immediately filled the commanders of the entire command headquarters with confidence, and everyone said: Yes, we have five or six times more troops than the German army, and they are scattered in a number of strongholds in the city, and we are fully capable of breaking them down, and then the city of Warsaw will fall into our hands like a ripe apple.

The Polish troops of the 7th and 8th regiments rushed north along the Boulevard of Povsinska, but encountered little resistance along the way, mainly because the German army was limited in strength, and the main forces were concentrated in administrative institutions and military positions, and the Polish army encountered only a few small patrols.