Before the dust fell, the infantry, who had already been preparing to attack, immediately began to attack. German machine guns and mortars from the beacon towers in the distance fired desperately, trying to stop the Soviets from rushing into the fortress through the gap in the city walls.

Vanya, who was staying at the observation post, saw the Germans on the beacon firing, and immediately grabbed the phone in front of him and shouted into the microphone: "Artillery battalion, immediately aim at the beacon and fire, we must suppress the enemy's fire and ensure a smooth breakthrough of the infantry." ”

The German firing points, which had been suppressed by Soviet artillery fire, soon became dumb, and the Soviet commanders and fighters stepped on the remnants of the bricks and rubble of the city wall, through the gaps in the explosion, and rushed into the city wall to seize the buildings behind the outer walls.

In the midst of a fierce battle, Vanya suddenly received a call from the commander. Popov was on the other end of the microphone and asked straight to the point: "Comrade Colonel, where have your troops arrived?" ”

Vanya, who had been in a state of excitement since he saw the troops rushing into the city wall, heard Popov's question and immediately replied excitedly: "Report to Comrade Commander, the wall has been bombarded by the Guards rocket artillery battalion to open a gap, and our vanguard has already stormed the fortress......"

"Stop, stop now!" Unexpectedly, Popov poured a basin of cold water on him, "Colonel Vanya, immediately order your troops to stop the attack and return to the original starting position." ”

After hearing Popov's order, Vanya's smile suddenly froze on his face. He hesitated for a long time before he asked, "Comrade Commander, why is this?" You know, our troops have stormed the fortress, and they can fully cooperate with the troops from the east to capture the fortress of Modlin in one fell swoop. ”

Popov waited for him to finish speaking, and then said slowly: "The offensive from the east has been canceled, and it is impossible to capture this strong fortress with the strength of our army group. Now I order you, immediately order the troops to stop the offensive and withdraw from the fortress. Do you understand? ”

"Comrade Commander," said Vanya reluctantly, "we have managed to break through the walls of the fortress, and to withdraw at such a time is not a waste of all our efforts?" ”

"There is a distance of almost five kilometers from the outer wall to the inner wall." After Popov waited for Vanya to finish, he said coldly into the microphone: "Do you think that one of your divisions can successfully pass this distance under the blockade of the German army's dense artillery fire?" ”

Vanya wanted to make a desperate bet, but when he heard Popov's words, he immediately fell silent, he was still very self-aware, knowing that if he had not just had the help of the Guards rocket artillery battalion, it would have been impossible to blow up the city walls. It was almost impossible to approach the inner walls of the fortress under the fire of the fortress's artillery. Thinking of this, he said with some hesitation into the microphone: "So, we have to retreat?" ”

"That's right, the troops must be allowed to retreat immediately." Popov urged: "Since the troops in the east have abandoned the attack on the fortress, you have become a lone army, and if you do not disengage from the Germans as soon as possible, you will suffer huge losses under the strong fire of the German army." ”

"Understood." Vanya, realizing the seriousness of the problem, hurriedly assured Popov: "Please rest assured, Comrade Commander, I will immediately give the troops an order to retreat." ”

…………

Rokossovsky, after careful observation, found that if the attack was launched from the east, all the attacking forces would be exposed to the fire of the powerful German fortresses, so he decisively gave the order to stop the attack. As soon as he returned to the headquarters of the Front, he dialed Moscow by high-frequency telephone.

Stalin, who was in his office, heard that it was Rokossovsky who called, and thought that the other party was going to report good news to him, so he asked with a smile: "Comrade Rokossovsky, do you have any good news to tell me about the Modlin Fortress?" ”

"I'm sorry, Comrade Stalin." Rokossovsky replied with some shame: "I'm sorry I brought you bad news." Not long after the artillery preparations before the offensive of our army began, they were returned by the artillery fire of the powerful fortresses of the German army, and many artillery positions suffered huge losses. ”

When Stalin waited for him to finish, he asked noncommittally: "What do you think?" ”

"I propose to stop the offensive, Comrade Stalin." Rokossovsky, who now had the 47th Army in his hands, decided to use it in a more important direction, so he cautiously stated his intentions: "I intend to send Gusev's troops into the city of Warsaw, and then attack the south side of the city of Warsaw, attack the rear of the German troops rushing to the landing ground of Magnushev, and realize the division with the Eighth Guards Army." ”

In response to his statement, Stalin did not take a position, but said lightly: "I know. I'll give you an answer after I've consulted with the members of the High Command. After speaking, without leaving Rokossovsky a chance to speak, he hung up the phone directly.

Terekin, who was sitting across the wooden table, saw Rokossovsky put down the phone and hurriedly asked? "What did Comrade Stalin say, did he agree with our decision to stop the offensive? ”

Rokossovsky shook his head, but immediately saw the look of horror on Terekin's face, and guessed that the other party had misunderstood what he meant, and hurriedly explained: "The Supreme Commander himself does not agree with us to stop the offensive, but he just does not give us an answer for the time being, and he can only give us a final answer after consulting with the members of the Supreme Command." ”

"Comrade Marshal," Terekin asked Rokossovsky with some concern, having long since learned from Malinin about the reasons for the cancellation of the attack on the fortress from the east: "what do you think Comrade Stalin will ultimately decide?" ”

"I don't know." Rokossovsky shook his head and said: "I am only afraid that if he does not agree to stop the attack, we will have to order the troops, braving the heavy fire of the enemy, through the open area between the two rivers." Whether the fortress will be taken, I don't know, but the attacking troops will definitely be crippled by enemy fire. ”

Malinin came over and asked Rokossovsky for instructions: "Comrade Marshal, according to what I know, the troops of the 70th Army are still attacking the perimeter of the Modlin Fortress from the north. Do you want them to continue, or do you stop the attack and withdraw from the fight? ”

"Call General Popov and order him to withdraw his troops." Although he had not yet received an answer from Stalin, Rokossovsky, considering that if the 70th Army continued to fight, the consequences would be unimaginable, so he decisively gave the order: "Disengage the German army quickly so as not to suffer unnecessary casualties." ”

"Comrade Marshal," Terekin heard Rokossovsky's order, and hurriedly spoke to stop it: "We also know about Comrade Stalin's final decision, if the troops are withdrawn, but he still orders us to attack the fortress of Modlin, then what should we do?" ”

"Don't worry, if the Supreme Commander himself blames it, I will bear it alone." Rokossovsky, a man who had made up his mind and would not change easily, looked at Malinin and repeated his order again: "Chief of Staff, call Pobosha and ask him to immediately withdraw the troops. ”

As soon as Malinin turned around and walked away, the high-frequency phone on the desk rang. Rokossovsky stared at the constantly honking phone in front of him, and thought to himself: This should be Stalin's call to inform me of my final decision. But I don't know how to stop the attack, and the final conclusion is whether it is allowed or not.

As soon as Rokossovsky put the headphones to his ear, he heard Stalin's voice: "Is it Comrade Rokossovsky?" I am Stalin! ”

"Hello, Comrade Stalin." Rokossovsky said in a bit of a panic: "I'm Rokossovsky, I wonder if you have a final conclusion?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Rokossovsky." On the other end of the phone, Stalin said slowly: "After the study of the Supreme Command, we agree that you should stop the offensive. "When Rokossovsky heard this, he just breathed a sigh of relief, and then he heard Stalin say it again." But ......"

Hearing the word "but", his mood became uneasy again: "Comrade Stalin, if you have any instructions, please give them." ”

"When the offensive has ceased, you are to move into a solid defense in this area and begin to prepare for a new offensive campaign. As for the 47th Army," said Stalin, paused, struck a match, lit the cigarette butt in his hand, and continued: "It is better to follow the plan you have just reported, let them enter the city of Warsaw first, and then attack the German troops in the south of the city." ”

Malinin walked over and reported to Rokossovsky, who had put down the microphone: "Comrade Marshal, I have just finished talking to General Popov and conveyed your meaning to him. He said that only one infantry division, the 181st Division, had approached the outer walls of the fort, and that he had been able to withdraw this force in the shortest possible time. ”