The Polish army entered the established area of attack late on the night of the 19th and was ready for all combat.

As soon as it was dawn the next day, Soviet artillery launched a heavy artillery bombardment of the German positions opposite.

After an hour-long bombardment of German positions, Soviet artillery suddenly stopped, and the whole battlefield suddenly became quiet. Several division commanders of the Polish Army stayed in the headquarters here, with telephones in their hands, patiently waiting for the commander General Behringer to give the order to attack.

After a while, several division commanders heard Behringer's voice at the same time, coming from the microphone they were holding: "Comrade commanders, for five whole years, I have not wanted to set foot on Polish territory again. Today, please tell all the fighters that our homeland is ahead, and as long as we break through the enemy's defenses, we will be able to set foot on the territory of the motherland again. Now I command! As he said this, he heard the sound of heels colliding in the earpiece, which was several division commanders standing upright, "The attack begins!" ”

As soon as the order was given, the tanks of the commander of the Polish tank brigade, Major General Mei Rican, rushed out first, and behind him were seventy or eighty T-34 tanks. Seeing that the tank brigade had already attacked, the Polish 1st, 2nd and 3rd divisions also launched attacks on the enemy's positions in their respective areas of operation.

The Germans, who were dazed by Soviet artillery fire, could not help but be shocked when they saw the Polish troops coming up densely after re-entering the position. On the front of the tank brigade rushing was an infantry regiment of the German army, and when the regiment commander heard the battalion commander's report, he said disapprerovingly: "Major, did you drink too much last night and still haven't come to your senses." The Polish army was completely wiped out by us as early as 1939, how could a division of troops suddenly appear, you must be dazzled. ”

"Mr. Colonel," said the battalion commander with a crying voice, "if you don't believe me, you can come to the front and see for yourself." I estimate that they have more than one division, at least two or three divisions of troops, and there are tanks in front of the road, and my battalion lacks heavy weapons and may be difficult to hold them off. ”

"Major, order your troops to open fire immediately and hold off the Russian attack." The regimental commander said impatiently: "I will go to you immediately." ”

Ten minutes later, when the German commander came to the front, he was also stunned by the flood of Polish troops, and he muttered: "Hell, what the hell, where did so many Polish troops come out?" Isn't it said that on our front, there are only small units of the Russians? ”

The battalion commander said to the regiment commander with a sad face: "Mr. Colonel, we should ask the division headquarters for reinforcements, otherwise our positions will soon be broken through by the Poles. ”

At this moment, the regiment commander finally realized that what the battalion commander said was not alarmist, and he hurriedly went to the battalion headquarters to call the division headquarters by wireless telephone. After hearing the voice of the division commander, he hurriedly reported to the other side: "Your Excellency, in front of our regiment, a large number of Polish troops have suddenly appeared, they are all equipped with heavy weapons, and I ask for support, otherwise our position is in danger of being broken through by the Polish army." ”

"I've gotten similar reports from other regiments." After hearing this, the division commander said unhurriedly: "According to the analysis of the situation we have, the Polish army is about the size of a group army. But don't worry, the combat effectiveness of the Polish army is not on the same level as ours, and I believe that our troops will be able to defeat him soon. ”

Seeing that the division commander did not agree to send reserves, the regiment commander hesitated for a moment, and then called the regimental headquarters, and the regimental chief of staff who answered the phone said: "Chief of staff, the current situation here in Battalion A is very bad, there is probably a division of Polish troops rushing towards them, you immediately transfer two companies over to support them." ”

"Your Excellency Colonel," the chief of staff of the regiment said in embarrassment when he heard the order of the regiment commander, "our reserves have been sent to the front, and we really can't draw troops. ”

When the regiment commander heard that there were no reserves, he gritted his teeth and ordered the chief of staff: "Transfer two platoons from the guard company and rush over to support immediately." Move quickly, otherwise the Poles should rush into our positions. ”

Although the Germans used all measures to stop the Polish attack, and even sent their air force to bomb the Polish army's offensive ranks, none of this could save them from destruction. By 11 o'clock in the morning, the Polish army, which had been fighting fiercely for four hours, had completely annihilated the German division deployed in the front and successfully advanced to the West Bug River.

Hearing that the advance of the troops had reached the Sibug River, Behringer was overjoyed, and he hurriedly dialed the phone of the engineer brigade, found the brigade commander Lyubansky, and said bluntly: "Comrade Colonel, our vanguard has reached the Sibug River, I don't know how long it will take your engineer brigade to erect a pontoon bridge over the river that can be used for tanks?" ”

"Comrade commander, all of our commanders and fighters are looking forward to setting foot on the territory of the motherland as soon as possible." When Lyubansky heard that the troops had reached the Sibug River, he was also extremely excited: "Please rest assured, in five hours at most, we will be able to erect a pontoon bridge over the Sibug River." ”

As soon as Lyubansky put down the phone, he said to the political deputy brigade commander: "Lieutenant Colonel Zelikinsky, our infantry brothers have now reached the Sibug River, and the rest is up to us. I have already promised the commander that within five hours a pontoon bridge over the Sibug River will be erected for the passage of tanks, and now let the comrades act immediately. ”

The work of erecting the pontoon bridge did not go as smoothly as expected, and the Germans not only sent small groups of troops on the other side of the river to shoot cold shots at the commanders and fighters who built the bridge, but also dispatched the air force to bomb the section of the bridge.

Upon learning of this, Behringer immediately sent the Polish anti-aircraft artillery division of Colonel Prokopovich to set up a dozen anti-aircraft guns along the river to fire at those enemy aircraft circling over the bridge-building site. After the enemy planes in the air were shot down twice in a row, they did not dare to stay here any longer, so they could only turn around and fly away in a gloomy manner. And the enemy, who was shooting cold on the opposite bank, was also shelled by the Polish tank brigade and suffered heavy losses. 、

Rokossovsky soon learned about the erection of pontoon bridges over the West Bug River by the Polish army. Malinin asked him: "Comrade commander, do you think we need to send troops to support the Polish First Army?" ”

"I don't think it's necessary, and if they need help, they'll call us. But so far in the battle, General Behringer has not made a single phone call, proving that they want to do it on their own, and we don't need to do anything more. Rokossovsky shook his head and said: "Let our left flank continue to advance towards the West Bug River, choose another place to cross the river, and cooperate with the Polish army's operation into Poland." ”

The arrival of Soviet troops on the West Bug River from the other two attracted the attention of the Germans, thereby relieving the pressure on the Polish army and making the construction of the Polish engineer brigade more and more smooth.

By 3:30 p.m., Lyubansky reported to Behringer, who had come to inspect the company: "Comrade commander, the pontoon bridge has been erected and our troops can pass. ”

"Well done, Comrade Colonel." After complimenting Lyubansky a few words, Behringer instructed the chief of staff, Kolchicha: "Chief of staff, order our 1st Division to cross the river in formation!" ”

The Polish 1st Division, which had been on standby by the river for a long time, under the leadership of commanders at all levels, stepped onto the pontoon bridge with neat steps and walked towards the opposite bank.

Behringer raised his hand and looked at his watch, smiled and said to Korchitsa: "Comrade Chief of Staff, we should remember this great moment, on July 20, 1944 at 15:36, our troops set foot on the territory of Poland. ”

As soon as he finished speaking, another familiar voice suddenly sounded beside him: "General Behringer, I will also remember this great moment, when the heroic Polish army re-set foot on the territory of their homeland." Okay, let's go full speed ahead and defeat the fascist invaders entrenched there. ”

Behringer gave a military salute to Rokossovsky, who suddenly appeared, and said with a spring breeze: "Comrade Marshal, I would like to ask you to enter Poland with us. ”

"That's right, Comrade Marshal." The chief of staff, Kolča, also helped: "Let's enter Poland together." ”

After the infantry of the 1st Division reached the opposite bank, the commanders and fighters of the motorized regiment rode dozens of three-wheeled motorcycles across the pontoon bridge. Rokossovsky saw that the time for the bridge was almost up, and he beckoned to the two: "All right, General Behringer, Colonel Korchitsa, let's cross the bridge now." ”

…………

Shortly after the Polish army entered Poland, Lieutenant General Gusev's 47th Army, Lieutenant General Chuikov's 8th Guards Army, Lieutenant General Korpakc's 69th Army, and General Bogdanov's 2nd Tank Army entered Polish territory one after another.

In order to help the ground forces quickly establish their positions, Air Force Lieutenant General Porenin's 6th Air Force arrived on the battlefield in the shortest possible time, carrying out patrols in the air, driving away German planes that were trying to bomb and bombing German units that appeared nearby.

The troops of the left flank of the 1st Belorussian Front entered Poland one after another, and the troops of the right flank, not to be outdone, launched a powerful offensive against the enemy in front of them, defeating the Germans one after another.

When Rokossovsky returned to his headquarters, after learning from Malinin about the progress of the armies of the right flank, he asked: "Chief of staff, how long do you think it will take for the troops of the right flank to reach the area of the Brest fortifications?" ”

Malinin thought for a moment, and then replied: "Comrade Marshal, if our army still maintains the current intensity of attack, I will definitely be able to reach the Brest Fortress around the 25th of this month at the latest. ”

"So, five more days?" Rokossovsky stared at the map for a while, then shook his head and said: "No, it's too slow, I'm sure the Supreme Command will not be satisfied with this speed, tell the commanders of the army groups on the right flank, let them speed up the attack." ”

"Comrade Marshal, the commanders of the armies have done their best," said Malin, with some embarrassment, "it is almost impossible to get them to speed up any longer." ”

"Then let them adjust their tactics," Rokossovsky said suddenly, "after breaking through the enemy's position, you can't just chase after the enemy's ass and fight." In this case, once the enemy re-enters the defensive position, we have to carry out a new battle, which is a very waste of time. ”

"What do you mean?" Malinin asked cautiously.

"Adopt the tactics of parallel pursuit." Rokossovsky was deeply afraid that Malinin would not understand, and he gestured on the map with his hand and said: "As soon as the enemy's defenses are broken, our troops should be divided into two or three parts." One continued to follow the pursuit, while the other two, in parallel with the enemy, went to seize the areas where they might build defenses. We've used this tactic before, and we've had good results. Now in the case of the absolute superiority of our army, it should be used even more. ”

"Understood, Comrade Marshal." Malinin nodded and said: "I will immediately deploy your instructions and let all the armies on the right flank adopt new tactics in order to speed up the advance towards the Brest fortress." ”

After receiving Malinin's order, the commanders of several group armies on the right flank promptly adjusted their tactics and adjusted the original tactics of trailing pursuit to the tactics of attaching equal importance to trailing pursuit and parallel pursuit.

"So, five more days?" Rokossovsky stared at the map for a while, then shook his head and said: "No, it's too slow, I'm sure the Supreme Command will not be satisfied with this speed, tell the commanders of the army groups on the right flank, let them speed up the attack." ”

"Comrade Marshal, the commanders of the armies have done their best," said Malin, with some embarrassment, "it is almost impossible to get them to speed up any longer." ”

"Then let them adjust their tactics," Rokossovsky said suddenly, "after breaking through the enemy's position, you can't just chase after the enemy's ass and fight." In this case, once the enemy re-enters the defensive position, we have to carry out a new battle, which is a very waste of time. ”

"What do you mean?" Malinin asked cautiously.

"Adopt the tactics of parallel pursuit." Rokossovsky was deeply afraid that Malinin would not understand, and he gestured on the map with his hand and said: "As soon as the enemy's defenses are broken, our troops should be divided into two or three parts." One continued to follow the pursuit, while the other two, in parallel with the enemy, went to seize the areas where they might build defenses. We've used this tactic before, and we've had good results. Now in the case of the absolute superiority of our army, it should be used even more. ”

"Understood, Comrade Marshal." Malinin nodded and said: "I will immediately deploy your instructions and let all the armies on the right flank adopt new tactics in order to speed up the advance towards the Brest fortress." ”

After receiving Malinin's order, the commanders of several group armies on the right flank promptly adjusted their tactics and adjusted the original tactics of trailing pursuit to the tactics of attaching equal importance to trailing pursuit and parallel pursuit.