After Batov learned that Sokov's troops had established a landing site on the west bank of the West River, he was greatly stimulated. He immediately issued an order to the troops below to speed up the crossing of the river at all costs and strive to cross the river in the shortest possible time.
Within, more troops and technical equipment will be transported to the west bank so that a stable landing site can be established as soon as possible.
However, the active actions of Batov's troops stimulated the German army. Originally, on the flanks of the 65th Group Army's landing site, there were the Stettin Fortress and the German fleet. At this moment, seeing Batov's troops preparing to establish a landing site on the west bank, for a while
The fortress guns and naval guns fired at the same time, trying to wipe out all the Soviet troops arriving on the west bank through intensive artillery fire.
The German infantry on the west bank also took advantage of the artillery fire to launch a counterattack. Their attack target was the embankment on the river where supplies could be landed. As long as they controlled that area, even if the Soviet ships transporting technical equipment reached the shore, they would not be able to land.
But how could Batov surrender the area he had occupied to the Germans? While ordering Teremov to strengthen resistance, he ordered the artillery positions deployed in the shoals to fire in the direction of the German fortresses and fleets.
Although a few hours ago, when the German army deployed artillery positions on the second line and bombarded the river with intensive artillery fire, the artillery deployed in the shallows was unable to return fire because of insufficient range. The artillery commanders were already suffocating.
At this moment, when they saw the German Fortress of Stettin and the small fleet, and fired at the infantry landing on the west bank, they were naturally rude, and all their artillery fire was directed at the enemy who exposed the target.
Under the suppression of artillery, the artillery fire from the fortress and fleet became sparse. The commanders and fighters of the 65th Group Army took the opportunity to send some artillery to the west bank on rafts, and began to establish artillery positions to bombard the German infantry who charged towards the shore.
.
"General Bartov," Rokossovsky, after learning about the fighting situation in the 65th Group Army's crossing area, personally called Bartov and asked, "If you need any help, just ask and I will do my best."
Support you."
"Comrade Marshal," Bartov was originally hesitating whether he should ask Rokossovsky to send out the air force again to bomb the Stettin Fortress and the German fleet. At this moment, hearing Rokossovsky ask this, he
"I hope that General Vershining's air force can bomb the Stettin Fortress and the German fleet to disarm them so that our army will not have to pay huge losses due to enemy shelling when fighting on the west coast," he said.
casualties."
Rokossovsky readily agreed to Bartov's request: "No problem, General Bartov. The weather at the moment is good and the visibility is very high, which is suitable for the air force to take off for operations. I will contact Wei immediately."
General Ershinin and asked him to send a bomber group to bomb the German Fortress of Stettin and the German fleet."
After putting down the phone, Rokossovsky asked Bogolyubov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, how is the progress of the 70th Group Army?"
"Not ideal, Comrade Marshal." Bogolyubov replied: "So far, their troops have not been able to land on the West Bank."
Rokossovsky couldn't help but frowned after hearing this: "What's going on? Why is General Popov's progress so slow?"
Bogolyubov shrugged his shoulders, spread his hands, and said helplessly: "Comrade Marshal, according to my understanding, there are many bifurcated canals in the area where they crossed the river. The scouts regarded one of the canals as Theod.
river, so in the artillery preparations before the attack, all the artillery shells were thrown at the west bank, which was not guarded by many enemies. When the troops launched the forced crossing operation, they were hit by powerful firepower from the west bank, and the troops crossing the river suffered a huge loss.
losses, resulting in the failure of the first forced transfer operation."
"Hell, how could General Popov make such a low-level mistake?" After listening to what Bogolyubov said, Rokossovsky said dissatisfied: "It is precisely because the preparations before the attack were not meticulous.
This led to the failure of the attack. You tell General Popov to remember this lesson and never make similar mistakes again."
"I understand, Comrade Marshal." Bogolyubov nodded and said, "I will call General Popov right now and relay your words to him."
However, after Bogolyubov said this, he did not call immediately, but carefully said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Marshal, I just received a call from General Fedyuninsky.
"
"Well, a call from Fedyuninsky?" Rokossovsky raised his eyebrows and asked, "What did he say on the phone?"
"He said he hoped to use the 48th Army's landing site to transport his troops to the West Bank." Bogolyubov asked Rokossovsky for instructions: "Comrade Marshal, I wonder if you can agree to his request?"
Rokossovsky stared at the map and began to think about Fejuninsky's proposal. He felt that if the troops of the 2nd Assault Army were really allowed to enter the battlefield from the landing site established by the 48th Army, it would not only increase the strength of our own troops on the West Bank, but also
At the same time, it can quickly expand the area of the landing site. Thinking of this, he said to Bogolyubov: "I will call Misha first and ask him what he means. If he does not object, I will let Fejuninsky
Contact him to find out how both sides can reasonably use this landing site."
The call to Sokov was quickly answered: "Misha, how is the situation there? Is there any enemy counterattack?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal, the enemy infantry, under the cover of tanks, launched a crazy counterattack towards our landing site." Sokov reported to Rokossovsky on the phone: "Fortunately, we delivered the new weapons in time.
Rocket launchers and rocket launchers were sent to the west bank. With the help of these weapons, a large number of German tanks were destroyed, hundreds of German soldiers were eliminated, and the remaining enemies fled back to their starting positions in panic."
"Misha, I'm calling because I want to discuss something with you."
When Sokov heard what Rokossovsky said, he suddenly had an ominous premonition in his heart and thought to himself: "Does Rokossovsky plan to ask me to transfer troops to support Batov on the flank? What if it's true?
If you do this, the strength of the defenders at the landing site on the west bank will be weakened. If the German army launches another attack, it may be difficult to fight." However, now that Rokossovsky had spoken, he could not object casually and could only tactfully object.
He said: "Comrade Marshal, if you have any questions, just say it. As long as it is within my ability, I will definitely do it."
"That's it." Rokossovsky said: "Fejuninsky called me not long ago and said that he hopes you can agree to allow his troops to enter the West Bank through the landing site you established and carry out the next step.
Combat mission." Perhaps because he was worried that Sokov would disagree, he specifically added, "Although I can make the decision on this matter, I still think I should talk to you first. After all, the two forces are not affiliated with each other.
Using the same area to cross the river may cause some confusion."
Seeing that Rokossovsky was talking about this matter, Sokov suddenly felt more at ease. He was originally worried that although his troops had established a landing site on the west bank, there were no friendly troops on the left and right wings. Once they develop in depth,
When he was attacked from both wings, he was afraid that his offensive forces would be dispersed. Now Fedyuninsky planned to use his landing site to send troops to fight on the west bank, which was really what he wanted. He quickly said: "Comrade Marshal,
If General Fedyuninsky's troops can land on the west bank through my landing site, it will eliminate the threat to my right wing, and I am more than happy for it."
"Well, since you don't object, I will contact Fejuninsky immediately and ask him to discuss with you how to cooperate in the next step."
After Rokossovsky ended the call with Sokov, he immediately contacted Fedyuninsky: "Ivan, I have good news for you. Misha has agreed to let your troops use the landing site on the West Bank. You
Get in touch with him immediately to discuss the next step of cooperation details to avoid unnecessary confusion when using the landing site."
Fedyuninsky was overjoyed to learn that Sokov allowed his troops to use the landing site on the west bank: "Great, Koschka, this is really great. I will contact General Sokov to discuss
Matters regarding the passage of troops."
Two hours later, the 128th and 147th Infantry Divisions borrowed the passage from the 48th Group Army's landing site and launched an attack on the German troops in Ankram. The German troops standing here were monitoring the river to prevent an attack from the other side.
The Soviet army carried out a cross-river operation. But after waiting for a long time, they found that the Soviet ships on the other side had entered the water, but they stayed in place and did not move. Just when the enemy was puzzled, they were attacked from the flank and were suddenly attacked.
I was caught off guard.
The German commander quickly organized his troops to launch a counterattack, trying to stop the Soviet attack and stabilize his defense line. But at this moment, the ships on the other side suddenly began to cross the river, which immediately confused the German army.
The Soviet army, which launched a flank attack, used artillery fire to block the Oder River and intercept ships crossing the river.
Regrettably, although the measures taken by the German commanders were correct, due to limited troop strength, they could not stop the incoming Soviet troops. Soon, Ankram fell into the hands of the Soviet troops.
, the remaining German troops had to withdraw to the next line of defense.
After occupying Anklam, Fejuninsky ordered the troops to reinforce the fortifications on the spot in preparation for the German counterattack. At the same time, he dialed the phone number of the front army headquarters and reported the good news of the establishment of the landing site to Rokossovsky.
"Ivan, you did a great job." Rokossovsky felt more at ease when he learned that Fejuninsky had also established a landing site on the west bank. Three of the four armies participating in crossing the river have now established landing sites.
, this means that the first step of the offensive campaign has achieved great success. Next, we only need to stabilize the existing positions and continue to develop deeper into the enemy's defense. It will take up to a month to reach the outside of Berlin.
After finishing the phone call with Fedyuninsky, an excited Rokossovsky asked Bogolyubov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, is there any latest news from General Popov?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Bogolyubov said with a beaming face: "When you were talking to General Fedyuninsky just now, General Popov called and said that his troops had been defeated after a hard battle.
Successfully landed on the west bank and seized a German position."
"Not bad, not bad." After listening to Bogolyubov's report, Rokossovsky said with satisfaction: "I was thinking just now that three of the five armies participating in the attack successfully landed on the West Bank and stood firm.
The heel is a good start for our offensive campaign. Unexpectedly, even General Popov's 70th Army has now landed on the West Bank."
"Now only the 19th Army is left." Bogolyubov said: "If their troops can also reach the west bank, our operation today will be perfect."
"Whether the 19th Group Army lands on the West Bank does not have much impact on us." Rokossovsky said: "After all, the task assigned to them was to pretend to cross the river to attract the attention of the German army and thereby reduce the risk of
Pressure from other troops crossing the river. Let them stay in the existing area and continue to deter the Germans, so that the Germans will not easily dare to send troops into the Oder River to reinforce their troops under attack."
At dark, not only did Sokov's troops establish a landing site eight kilometers wide and five kilometers deep, but even the 65th Group Army, which had been repeatedly disrupted by German artillery fire, now established a landing site six kilometers wide and a little deeper.
The five-kilometer landing field. Coupled with the 2nd Assault Army that occupied Anklam, the three armies, after a day of fighting, have occupied a huge area on the west bank of the West Oder River controlled by the Germans. The Germans want
To retake this area, unless more troops and technical equipment are used, their counterattack will be nothing more than a final desperate struggle.
Popov's troops also performed quite well in the last few hours. Although they made reconnaissance errors during the first river crossing, the first forced crossing still ended in failure after paying huge sacrifices.
.But after the troops landed on the west bank, they fought very hard. Regardless of the area they occupied, there were only two trenches of the German army. It was relying on such trenches and the bravery and tenacity of the commanders and soldiers that they fought back and forth.
After repelling 16 German counterattacks, the wreckage of destroyed German tanks and the bodies of hundreds of German officers and soldiers were lined up in front of their position.
After learning about the results of the 70th Group Army, Rokossovsky nodded with a smile and said with satisfaction: "General Popov did a good job. I thought he would hold back the entire front army, but I didn't expect what they would do next.
His performance was also good, and he was able to stand firm despite the enemy's crazy counterattack. This alone is worthy of praise."
This chapter has been completed!