Chapter 2252

   Lunev snatched the telegram and quickly browsed the contents. After seeing the telegram, he stomped his feet anxiously, and said repeatedly: "It's over, it's over, I forgot about it this time. The troops of Zhukov and Marshal Konev have arrived outside Berlin, no matter how fast our army advances , and it is impossible to rush into Berlin ahead of them."

"Comrade Military Commissar, maybe there will be exceptions?" But Sidolin said unwillingly: "What if the troops of Zhukov and Marshal Konev were stubbornly blocked by the German army outside Berlin, and they were unable to do so for a long time?" Push forward, and our army speeds up the march, and there is still a chance to be the first force to enter Berlin."

"It's impossible." Although Lunev is not a military officer, he knows many things clearly in his heart. He shook his head and said, "If we want to enter Berlin before our friendly forces, we must use airborne troops. A chance to be the first force to enter Berlin."

"Comrade Military Commissar, your idea is good, but it is impossible to realize." Sokov vetoed Lunev's statement: "The German army has three huge anti-aircraft towers in Berlin, and the slow-moving transport plane entered the sky over Berlin. , they will become their targets. At that time, our paratroopers will be smashed to pieces by the German anti-aircraft guns before they can parachute. And even if some paratroopers are lucky enough to parachute successfully, I am afraid that they will defend the city after landing The entire army was wiped out under the siege."

"In this way, we have lost the honorary title of being the first to rush into the troops." Sidolin said disappointedly: "Hey, the war has progressed to this day, and the commanders and fighters want to rush into Berlin to occupy the Reichstag and see for themselves to the destruction of the invaders."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I have a hunch." Sokov tried hard to recall what he knew, and found that although Rokossovsky's Belarusian Second Front Army participated in the attack on Berlin, it didn't seem to be in the end. into Berlin. Therefore, he felt that it was necessary to inoculate both Sidolin and Lunev, so that they would not feel disappointed when they found out that by the end of the war, the troops had no chance of entering Berlin: "Maybe our army group has no chance of entering Berlin at all." Berlin."

"What, we have no chance to enter Berlin?" Hearing what Sokov said, Sidolin immediately became excited: "Comrade Commander, we have made so many sacrifices in order to eliminate the German invaders. How can we see that victory is in sight?" Why don't we go into Berlin?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff, this is how I think about it." Sokov said to Sidolin: "If the Berlin campaign launched by our army lasts for a long time, then in order to completely defeat the enemy, our front army, after clearing out the frontal enemies, It is possible to take part in the attack on Berlin. But if Berlin is captured for a short period of time, we have no chance at all."

"No way." Sidolin expressed doubts about Sukov's statement: "In any case, Berlin is a big city, and there are hundreds of thousands of German troops defending it. It will take at least several months for a city."

Lunev agreed with Sidolin's statement: "Misha, I think the chief of staff is right. It took the German army 200 days to capture Stalingrad, but it ended in failure. .A huge city like Berlin, even if our army attacks fiercely, it may not be able to take it down in three or four months. Therefore, I think we still have a chance to participate in the attack on Berlin."

In order to persuade Sokov, Lunev continued: "On April 12, President Roosevelt died of illness. The Germans who heard the news seemed to have received a shot in the arm. They felt that Roosevelt's death was a good thing for them. , because they can talk about peace with the new president. Secondly, yesterday, April 20, was Mustache’s birthday. In order to celebrate the birthday of their head of state, the German SS launched a counterattack in many areas and achieved some results .”

  Sokov just smiled lightly after hearing this, and asked back: "Comrade Military Commissioner, I don't know what you are trying to express by saying this?"

"Misha, what I mean is very simple." Lunev said: "The two events of Roosevelt's death and Mustache's birthday are enough to stimulate the German army to continue fighting crazily with our army. I even have an ominous premonition , the Germans may draw troops from the Western Front and use them against us."

  Sidorin retorted: "The Germans transferred troops from the Western Front, wouldn't they be even more unable to stop the Allied offensive?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff, didn't you hear what I said just now?" Lunev said with some displeasure: "With Roosevelt's death, the Germans saw the possibility of peace again. They will open their channels to the Allies. The road to Berlin, and move more troops to the front of our army, continue to fight our army, prevent our army from entering Berlin."

"The military commissioner is right," Sokov nodded: "With Roosevelt's death, I am afraid his heirs will not be so friendly with us, so there is another private peace negotiation with the German army. And the Germans may Use this opportunity to bring more troops from the Western Front to fight with us."

   "It's almost dawn." Sidolin looked at the sky outside and said, "I don't know how we should attack today?"

   "On the basis of consolidating the existing defense line, we will continue to push the German army's defense in depth." After Sokov finished speaking, he asked Sidolin: "Has the pontoon bridge over the Oder River been erected?"

   "So far, only the pontoon bridge from the East Oder River has been completed, and the construction of the pontoon bridge from the West Oder River has not yet started."

"It's too slow, it's simply too slow." Sokov said dissatisfiedly after hearing this: "Didn't the director of the engineering corps tell me that the construction of the pontoon bridge could be completed within eight hours? It has been almost 20 hours now, and the result Only the pontoon bridge over the East Oder was erected. If there is no pontoon to the west bank, how will our tanks and artillery be transported across the river?"

   "Comrade Commander, you don't have to worry about this." Sidolin said to Sokov: "The Front Army Command mobilized several ferries overnight, which can help us transport the tanks and artillery we need from the West Bank."

"Oh, how many ferries have the Front Army Command prepared for us?" Sokov felt more at ease when he heard the news. With these ferries, more tanks and artillery can be transported in a very short period of time. to the West Bank. With these technical equipment, the troops on the West Bank will be able to better advance deep into the German defense.

  The phone on the desk rang, and Sokov grabbed the receiver: "I'm Sokov, where are you?"

   "Misha, it's me. I'm Rokossovsky." Rokossovsky's slightly hoarse voice came from the receiver: "Have you received the notification from the Front Army Command?"

"Yes, Comrade Marshal, I have received it." Sokov knew very well that being unable to participate in the attack on Berlin would be a heavy blow to Rokossovsky. He quickly said: "If Zhukov Both Field Marshal and Field Marshal Konev's troops have reached the outskirts of Berlin, which means that the High Command may not allow us to participate in the attack on Berlin."

"Well, Misha, you're right." Rokossovsky nodded and said, "Analyzing from all indications, the superior will let us continue to advance westward to reach the Elbe River and meet the oncoming Allied forces." Join forces and complete the siege of Berlin."

   Hearing Rokossovsky talk about the Elbe River, Sokov immediately thought of the famous meeting of the Elbe River. But the next moment, he realized that the Second Front Army's arrival at the Elbe River to join forces with the Allied Forces was a different matter from the meeting of troops on the Elbe River recorded in the history books. The army that was recorded in the history books was the first Ukrainian Front Army of Marshal Konev. . Instead of Rokossovsky's Belarusian Second Front.

  Thinking of this, Sokov smiled bitterly and said: "We have cooperated with the Allied Forces for several years, and now we finally have the opportunity to join forces. This is really exciting news."

"Misha, it's still too early to talk about joining forces." Rokossovsky said seriously on the phone: "There are still a large number of enemies between our two troops. According to my research with the chief of staff As a result, in the ensuing battles, the Germans will continuously draw troops from the western front to strengthen our frontal defensive positions. Arrive outside Berlin in mid-May and I'll be content."

Hearing what Rokossovsky said, Sokov murmured to himself: "We can't wait that long, the Germans will surrender in early May. By then, the enemies in front of us will stop resisting, and some of them will flee to the Allies. The areas controlled by the Germans will surrender to the Allies; and more German troops will become our prisoners."

However, in order not to pour cold water on Rokossovsky, he followed the other party's intention and said: "You are right, Comrade Marshal. I believe that with everyone's efforts, we will have the opportunity to reach Berlin in mid-May." outskirts."

After chatting with Sokov for a few more words, Rokossovsky put down the phone, and then said to Subbotin who was sitting next to him: "Comrade Military Commissar, Misha knows that our army has no chance to enter Berlin, although it is inevitable Disappointed, but his mentality is still very good."

"Hey, Comrade Marshal, if you hadn't taken General Sokov's 48th Army from Zhukov back then, maybe they have already reached the outskirts of Berlin by now, and they are ready to rush into Berlin at any time." Subbotin He said regretfully: "Now it seems that they have no chance to enter Berlin at all. I don't know how the commanders and fighters of the 48th Army will react when they know the news."

"Comrade Military Commissar, there is no other way." Rokossovsky said helplessly, "You know, before November last year, I was the commander of the First Belarusian Front Army. The unit will be the first unit to enter Berlin. But I never dreamed that I was dismissed from the position of commander of the First Front Army and transferred to the Second Front Army. Instead, the direction of attack was arranged for us. It's East Prussia."

"Yes, yes," Su Bojing nodded and echoed, "If from the beginning, our attack direction was Berlin, it is estimated that we have reached the outskirts of Berlin at this moment. As for which front army's troops entered Berlin first , it depends on the individual's ability."

"Comrade Marshal," Bogolyubov said beside him, "Actually, I think it would be a waste for us to participate in operations in East Prussia. You know, General Cherniakhovsky's Belarusian Third The Front Army, General Baghramyan's Baltic Front Army, is sufficient to complete the task of conquering East Prussia."

Rokossovsky knew very well that the reason why the base camp ordered him to attack East Prussia first, and then to fight the German army in East Pomerania was to buy Zhukov time and let the Belarusian army under his command The Front became the first force to reach outside Berlin. But some people know what's going on, but they can't say it out of their mouths, so as not to cause unnecessary trouble for themselves.

"Comrade Chief of Staff, you can't say that." Rokossovsky said with a laugh: "If we don't attack East Prussia first, when our front army attacks westward, the enemy in East Prussia may attack from our army." When we attack from the rear, we have to stop and turn around to deal with the enemy from behind."

"Comrade Marshal is right." Subbotin expressed his support for Rokossovsky's statement: "Before the start of the East Prussian Battle, the enemy's forces that retreated to the East Prussian region were very large. It is very difficult to defeat them with the troops of Cherniakhovsky and Bagramyan. For example, the troops commanded by General Cherniakhovsky laid siege to the The city of Memel was taken, but it was only captured in February this year, which shows that the enemy is very powerful. And our front army participated in the battle in East Prussia, which accelerated the speed of defeating the German army..."

   "Comrade Marshal." At this time, a staff officer came over and reported to Rokossovsky: "General Batov called and said he wanted to talk to you."

Batov is Rokossovsky's confidant and favorite general. When he heard that the other party was calling, he guessed that there might be something important, so he walked over quickly and picked up the microphone on the table: "Batov Is it? I'm Rokossovsky, do you have something important to ask me?"

   "Comrade Marshal, it's almost dawn." Batov's loud voice came from the receiver: "This means that we will launch a new round of offensive against the German army to expand the landing field we have established."

   "That's right, General Batov, it's almost dawn, and our offensive is about to start again." Rokossovsky asked, "Do you have any plans?"

"I plan to concentrate on attacking Stettin Fortress today." Batov said: "Only by taking this fortress, we will not be hit by artillery fire from the fortress in the battle to expand the landing field. But relying on our strength alone Strength is far from enough, and I hope to gain the support of the Front Command.”

   "Hope to get the support of the Front Army Command?" Rokossovsky asked back: "What kind of support do you need?"

"Aerial cover." Batov said: "I hope the air force can dispatch bombers to bomb the fortress so that they cannot bombard our attacking troops with artillery fire. In this way, we can reach the vicinity of the fortress as soon as possible and launch All-out attack."

   "You just want the support of the air force, this is a trivial matter." Rokossovsky said straightforwardly: "I will call Vershinen immediately and ask him to send air troops to support you."

  (end of this chapter)