Fortunately, after the German air raids, no new attack was launched on the city, and the commanders and fighters of the 4th Guards Army handed over the defense to the 65th Infantry Army of the 19th Army, reorganized their ranks and retreated to the south of the city. Having completed the regrouping there, they rushed to the Magnushev landing ground to reintegrate into the operational sequence of the Eighth Guards Army.

After daybreak, Chief of Staff Malinin, having compiled all the intelligence, reported to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Commander, according to the latest information available to us, General Batov's 65th Army has successfully taken over the defense of Warsaw. General Romanenko's 48th Army was building fortifications north of the city of Warsaw on the east bank of the Vistula River to prevent German attacks from the north. ”

After Malinin finished reporting on the situation in Warsaw, Rokossovsky asked: "How is the situation with the 4th Guards Army?" ”

"Not so good." Ma Linin shook his head and said: "The 4th Guards Army and the Guards Divisions that entered the city in the early stage have more than half of the casualties. If they can't replenish it in a short period of time, they won't be able to attack. ”

Although Rokossovsky said that he was mentally prepared for the casualties of the defenders of Warsaw, he was still taken aback after listening to what Malinin said, and more than half of the elite troops in the Eighth Guards Army suffered casualties, which was equivalent to losing the offensive capability in a short time. Even if they are replenished with enough troops, it will take some time to regain their combat effectiveness.

Thinking of this, he specifically instructed Ma Linin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please remember that once the higher authorities have replenished our troops, priority will be given to the Eighth Guards Army of Chuikov. ”

Malinin nodded, and then asked: "The commander of the 70th Army, Bobosha, reported that several prisoner of war camps had been found in the forest north of the Brest Fortress. He asked if it was possible to send troops to liberate these places in order to rescue the prisoners of war of our army. ”

"Do you need to talk about that?!" Rokossovsky felt that Malinin asked this question very strangely, in the past, after the liberation of prisoner of war camps, prisoners of war in good health were selected and armed as soon as possible, and after a short training, they were re-engaged in new battles, "Comrade Chief of Staff, what's wrong with you, didn't we all do this before?" ”

"Comrade Marshal," Malinin looked to the left and right, and seeing that the staff officers around him would not hear the conversation between the two, he continued: "Have you forgotten that some time ago you agreed to reorganize a 'Russian Liberation Army' and were reprimanded by the base camp. Prisoners of war in prisoner-of-war camps, whom Comrade Stalin called 'traitors to the Fatherland,' would be a waste if we liberated the camps and did not integrate healthy prisoners of war into the troops; ”

Rokossovsky couldn't help but hesitate about Malinin's concerns. If he agreed to Popov's request to send troops to liberate the prisoner of war camps, rescue the commanders and fighters imprisoned inside, and integrate them into his own troops, he would have cast a shadow over his future. He found that much of the known history had quietly changed since the troops of the 4th Guards Army entered Warsaw. He couldn't judge what the consequences would be if he had integrated the rescued prisoners of war into the army without the permission of his superiors.

Seeing that Rokossovsky was silent, Malinin also stood aside silently, patiently waiting for him to make a final decision. After some time, Rokossovsky finally asked: "Chief of Staff, has General Popov reported how many prisoners of war were held in these prisoner of war camps?" ”

Malinin glanced down at the paper in his hand and replied: "According to General Popov's judgment, the total number of prisoners of war held in several prisoner of war camps is not less than 10,000. ”

Originally, Rokossovsky was thinking that if the number of people was too small, he could order Popov not to liberate these prisoner of war camps from the Germans for the time being, but when he heard that there were no less than 10,000 prisoners of war held in them, he couldn't help but be moved. After repeated ideological struggles, he resolutely made up his mind: "Comrade Chief of Staff, send a telegram back to General Popov, agree to his request, immediately send troops to seize the German prisoner of war camps, and put an end to the commanders and fighters of our army who are imprisoned inside." ”

"Comrade Commander," Hearing Rokossovsky's decisive order, Malinin felt the need to persuade: "Think about it carefully, I am afraid that it will give you ...... in the future"

"My personal future is nothing!" Rokossovsky knew that even if he angered Stalin in this matter, he would not be sent to a military court, and at most he would be scolded. Therefore, he resolutely said: "Now that the Germans have found their defeat inevitable, if we do not act decisively, I fear that the enemy will poison the commanders and fighters held in the prisoner of war camps." ”

After receiving Popov's report, Malinin's first consideration was whether this would affect Rokossovsky's future. Therefore, it was not considered at all whether the Germans would have poisoned the Soviet commanders and fighters in the prisoner of war camps if they saw that they were at the end of their rope.

Hearing that Rokossovsky had made up his mind decisively at this moment, he nodded several times and said: "Understood, comrade commander, I will immediately contact General Popov and ask him to mobilize troops to liberate the prisoner of war camp and rescue our commanders and fighters." ”

When Malinin was about to shoot a telegram, he bumped into Terekin, who had just returned. Terekin saw the panic on Malinin's face, and hurriedly asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, is something wrong?" ”

Seeing that the military commissar had returned, Malinin immediately repeated the decision that Rokossovsky had just made to Terekin. After hearing this, Terekin bowed his head slightly, and said to Malinin: "Chief of Staff, I know, you should hurry up and send a telegram." ”

Terekin came to Rokossovsky and said with his usual expression: "Comrade commander, I understand the situation. I think that as your military commissar, I should not discuss with me when I encounter such a big matter. ”

Rokossovsky looked up at Terekin and said with a wry smile: "Comrade Military Commissar, this matter may affect your future, how can I affect you." ”

Terekin Zhengse said: "Don't worry, Comrade Commander, no matter what decision you make, I will resolutely support you." If you don't think it's good to report this to the High Command, I'll report it. If your superiors want to blame, I'll take half of the blame for you! ”