After more than half an hour of air combat, nine German dive bombers were shot down by the Soviet Air Force, and the rest turned around and flew back. The Polish anti-aircraft gunners who had just established an air defense position were cheering when they saw the enemy planes escaping hastily.
On the other hand, I regret that I couldn't achieve any results.
The temporary headquarters of General Proshlyakov, director of the engineering corps, was located only three hundred meters away from the Vistula River. During the bombing by enemy planes, many bombs fell near his headquarters.
The explosion made it difficult to hear loud voices in the headquarters.
As soon as the explosion ended, a staff officer suggested to him with lingering fear: "Comrade General, I suggest that the headquarters be established elsewhere. It is too dangerous here."
"What, comrade staff officer, do you think this place is dangerous?!" Proshlyakov pointed at the engineers on the riverside who were preparing to build the bridge despite being bombed by enemy planes, and said righteously to the staff officer: "
No matter how dangerous it is here, can it be more dangerous than those soldiers who risk their lives despite being bombed by enemy planes?"
Proshlyakov's words left the staff officer speechless. He could only shut up obediently and join the others in preparing for the bridge.
When the enemy plane was driven away by the Soviet air force, Proshlyakov immediately and decisively issued an order: "Start building the bridge!"
As the order was issued, the engineering soldiers staying by the river jumped into the water one after another, driving piles and laying the bridge deck. They were very busy.
Proshlyakov, who was staying at the headquarters, held up his binoculars and saw the pontoon extending bit by bit towards the other side. He became increasingly nervous. He was deeply afraid that the German planes would come again at this time, so he still
From time to time he glanced into the air.
"General Proshlyakov, why are you building the bridge?" Chuikov came in from outside and asked Proshlyakov who was standing indoors: "Where is General Tkachenko, what's going on?
Not with you?"
Proshlyakov knew that Tkachenko was the engineering director of the 8th Guards Army, but he had never seen him since arriving here. When Chuikov asked about it, he shook his head and said, "I'm sorry."
, General Chuikov, I haven’t seen his shadow since I came to the river until now.”
"Hell," Chuikov was also a little angry when Proshlyakov said this. Ever since the pontoon bridge on the Vistula River was blown up, he had been thinking about when the pontoon bridge could be rebuilt. He had just heard that the riverside had been attacked.
Despite the bombing by enemy planes, he rushed here despite the danger, but did not expect Tkachenko's shadow: "Where will he go?"
Although Proshlyakov and Tkachenko have no affiliation, they are both directors of the engineering corps and should look after each other. Seeing that Chuikov was showing signs of getting angry, he quickly explained: "General Chuikov, I think it may be because
The pontoon bridge on the Vistula River was blown up by the enemy, and Tkachenko may have organized people to collect materials for building the bridge."
After listening to Proshlyakov's explanation, the anger on Chuikov's face weakened slightly, and then he asked: "General Proshlyakov, Comrade Marshal sent you to build the bridge, right?"
"That's right." In response to Chuikov's question, Proshlyakov gave him an affirmative answer: "Comrade Marshal was worried that you would not have the strength to continue building the bridge, so he sent me to bring the engineers from the front army to support you. Now it seems
, we are at the right place.”
"I wonder how long it will take to build this pontoon bridge?"
"It will take at least eight hours." Proshlyakov must have been worried about what Chuikov would say, so he directly blocked his mouth with words: "This is already our fastest speed. If we want to go faster, I'm sorry, Chuikov."
General, we can't do it."
Chuikov looked at the black smoke rising repeatedly in the direction of the landing site on the left bank and the rumbling sound of artillery. He couldn't help but sigh softly, and then said to Proshlyakov: "The 47th Guards Division on the left bank is suffering.
The four German divisions are attacking hard, and I’m really worried that they won’t be able to hold on for that long.”
"Don't worry, General Chuikov." Proshlyakov said to Chuikov: "Our engineering troops will do their best to complete the erection of the pontoon bridge so that you can transport more soldiers and weapons and equipment."
Chuikov nodded after hearing this, and then asked tentatively: "Can the newly built pontoon bridge pass tanks or artillery?"
"Yes, General Chuikov." Proshlyakov replied confidently: "There is no problem at all."
"That's good, I immediately ordered the tank brigade and artillery units to assemble near the pontoon bridge," Chuikov said: "When your bridge is ready, start crossing the river immediately, and cross the Vistula River before the enemy planes arrive.
.”
He used the phone in the room to call his chief of staff Belyavsky and said: "Comrade chief of staff, the pontoon bridge troops sent by the front army headquarters are building a bridge on the Vistula River. Please send a few of them."
The tank brigade and artillery regiment rushed here, and once the bridge was set up, they immediately began to cross the river. They must rush to the Magnushev landing site on the other side in the shortest possible time to reinforce the 47th Guards Division."
In response to Chuikov's order, Belyavsky stared at the map on the table and said confidently: "Comrade Commander, there are now two tank brigades and three artillery regiments hidden in the Vistula River.
In the forest less than ten kilometers away. When the pontoon bridge is almost completed, I will give them the order to set off."
"By the way, I didn't see Tkachenko's shadow when I went to the river." Chuikov said into the microphone: "Ask anyone who knows his whereabouts."
"Comrade Commander, you are looking for General Tkachenko. I happen to know his whereabouts."
"Speak quickly," Chuikov urged: "Where is he now?"
"He is leading people to cut wood in the forest," Belyavsky explained to Chuikov: "He should be preparing materials for building a pontoon bridge."
After figuring out Tkachenko's whereabouts, the anger in Chuikov's heart also dissipated. After all, the engineers sent by the front army were building a pontoon bridge, and you, the real owner, disappeared without knowing where. This is a bit unreasonable. But since we know it is
He was cutting down trees, which meant that he was collecting materials for building a bridge. It was understandable that he could not be seen by the river.
While Chuikov and Proshlyakov were supervising the erection of the pontoon bridge on the Vistula River, another fierce battle broke out in the direction of Warsaw. The troops of the 2nd Tank Army and the 1st Polish Army had already rushed into the city of Warsaw and were fighting with the people in the city.
The German army launched a fierce battle.
The city of Warsaw is divided into east and west parts by the winding Vistula River. The Soviet and Polish troops who were fighting fiercely with the German army in the east of the city only saw the stubbornly resisting German army, but no trace of the Warsaw uprising army.
Rokossovsky learned that the joint forces of the Tank Army and the Polish 1st Army had successfully rushed into the east of Warsaw. He quickly contacted General Bellinger and said to him: "General Bellinger, in order to quickly
Get in touch with the Warsaw Uprising Army on the west bank, and you should send a force to seize the bridge on the Vistula River so that our army can pass the bridge, cross the Vistula River and enter the West District of Warsaw."
After Bellinger ended his call with Rokossovsky, he immediately called Colonel Galitsky, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, and ordered him: "Comrade Colonel, you immediately command your troops to rush to the Vistula River.
, we must seize a bridge before the Germans blow it up so that our army can smoothly enter the West District of Warsaw through the bridge."
"Comrade Commander," Galitsky asked respectfully, "I wonder in which direction our division should attack and seize which bridge on the Vistula River?"
At this moment, there are four bridges across the Vistula River in Warsaw, connecting the east and west of the city. Hearing Galitsky's question, Bellinger waved to him and said: "Colonel, come to me."
When Galitsky came in front of him, Bellinger pointed to the map and said to him: "Colonel, the task of your division is to attack north along the bank of the Vistula River and enter along Zeshensky Avenue.
After the South Prague district, try to capture the Lazienki Bridge from the Germans."
Perhaps because he was worried that the other party did not understand the significance of seizing the Lazienki Bridge, he also specifically emphasized: "Lazienki Bridge is flanked by Lazienki Street on both sides, and there are solid stone buildings on both sides of the road. If your troops move
Quickly, you can occupy some buildings as your division's fire support before the Germans react, and you don't have to worry about the enemy's counterattack."
After handing over the task, Bellinger asked again: "Do you have any more questions?"
"Comrade Commander," Galitsky hesitated for a moment, then pointed to the map and said to Bellinger: "Since we have reached the South Prague area, why not continue to advance a little further to capture the Warsaw East Station, and then
How about letting our soldiers take the train, rush directly across the bridge, and occupy the western part of Warsaw?"
"Colonel, your idea is good." Bellinger first agreed with Galitsky's fantastic idea, but then continued: "But have you ever thought about it, even if you occupy the Warsaw East Station?
After seizing the train from the Germans, do you think you can really reach the western part of the city smoothly?"
Bellinger waved his hands and said: "Once the Germans are aware of your intentions, they will wait for your train to get on the bridge and blow up the bridge directly. By that time, the thousands of commanders and fighters in the train may all sink to the bottom of the water. Retreat.
At ten thousand steps, even if the Germans don't blow up the bridge, they just need to place a few tanks west of the bridge and use artillery fire to destroy the front of the tractor-trailer. What kind of casualties do you think our officers and men will suffer?"
After Bellinger's analysis, Galitsky immediately realized that he had thought of the problem too simply. He commanded the troops to occupy the Warsaw East Station, seize the train there, then let the soldiers board the train, and took the train to rush along the railway to the West Bank.
, sounds very simple, but there are too many variables in it. The two situations Bellinger said may really occur. Not only will he not be able to capture the left bank area, I am afraid that the troops under his command will also suffer heavy casualties.
Woolen cloth.
"Understood, Comrade Commander." Galitsky said to Bellinger: "I will organize the troops when I get back, launch an attack on the South Prague District, and find a way to capture the Lazienki Bridge to ensure that our army can have a bridge to cross the river.
.But if we can get the cooperation of Soviet tanks, that would be great."
"I can contact the Soviet army and hope they can send tanks to cooperate, so that you can be more relaxed when advancing in the city."
Half an hour later, the 3rd Polish Infantry Division, guided by five Soviet T-34 tanks, advanced along the bank of the Vistula River towards the South Prague area.
Although they encountered tenacious German resistance along the way, the Polish army, supported by Soviet tanks, performed extremely bravely. They successfully broke through the German defenses and quickly approached the South Prague area.
But at this moment, a Soviet tank driving at the front stopped without warning, blocking the path of the tank behind it.
The tank following closely behind, not knowing what happened to the tank in front, quickly went around and prepared to continue advancing. However, at this moment, an armor-piercing bullet flying from the front accurately hit the tank.
A tank suddenly exploded, causing the ammunition in the vehicle to explode. The turret was blown away more than ten meters by the blast, knocking down several Polish soldiers who were following behind.
"What's going on?" A Polish lieutenant who was following behind saw this situation and couldn't help but mutter in his heart, "Why did the leading tank suddenly stop? Did it break down? It didn't look like it, but inside
None of the tank soldiers ran out; could it be that they were all sacrificed, but they were not found to have been shot?"
In order to find out what was going on, the lieutenant risked his life and climbed onto the tank body and opened the top hatch of the turret. When he opened the cover and looked inside, what he saw shocked him.
.because he saw that all the members in the tank were dead.
He quickly got off the tank, observed carefully, and finally found a small effect on the side of the tank, which was obviously the work of armor-piercing bullets. But what surprised him was that this was obviously firepower coming from the side, but
He followed not far from the tank and did not see any anti-tank firepower points on the side of the road.
However, the attack was continuing at this moment, and the lieutenant did not have time to figure out what was going on, so he led the soldiers in his company and continued to rush forward along the road.
Since the road was blocked by the destroyed tanks, the three tanks at the back could no longer continue to cooperate with the Polish army, so they could only stop where they were and provide artillery support for the attacking Polish infantry.
Soon, the officers and soldiers of the 3rd Polish Infantry Division rushed to the South Prague area and started a fierce battle with the German troops who stood here. Because the German army occupied a favorable terrain and blocked the path of the Polish army with firepower from a high position, they lacked heavy weapons support.
The Polish army was immediately suppressed by firepower and could not continue to advance.
Seeing that the attack was frustrated, Galitsky knew that if he continued to attack forcefully without the cover of heavy weapons, it would only cause huge casualties to the troops. So he ordered the troops to stop the attack and build a defense line in the occupied area to prevent the Germans from attacking.
Possible counterattack. At the same time, he sent a signal for help to Bellinger, hoping that the other party could provide him with more heavy weapons so that he could destroy the enemy's firepower points and open up a path for the attacking troops.
When Bellinger learned that the 3rd Infantry Division's attack had been frustrated, he quickly contacted the commanders of the 2nd Tank Army and begged them to dispatch some tanks to reinforce the Polish infantry arriving in the South Prague area and cover their rush to the Lazienki Bridge.
And find a way to establish a reliable landing site to the west of Warsaw after crossing the Vistula River.
This chapter has been completed!