But in the current situation, no matter how anxious Sokov is, he is still at his wits' end. After all, as long as Gorbatov's troops are absent for a day, he and the remaining troops will not be able to withdraw from Minsk for a day. After all, outside the city
There are still a large number of German troops watching, and we cannot rule out the possibility that they will jump over the wall in a hurry.
Sokov said helplessly into the microphone: "Okay, Comrade General, I will wait for the friendly forces to arrive, and then rush to the Baranovichi area to join the assault troops fighting there."
Rokossovsky heard Sokov's helplessness, smiled and comforted him and said: "Misha, I know you are concerned about the war in Baranovichi and are eager to rush over to join General Ponedelin. I can
I’ll give you an idea so that you can get there as quickly as possible without affecting Minsk’s defense.”
"Comrade General, tell me quickly." Sokov couldn't help but look forward to hearing what Rokossovsky said: "What is going on?"
"General Gorbatov's troops will definitely not enter Minsk all at once." Rokossovsky explained to Sokov: "They will definitely enter Minsk in batches based on divisions.
.Every time they come in with a division, you withdraw one division from the city and rush to the Baranovichi area as quickly as possible..."
"Good idea, this is really a good idea." After listening to Rokossovsky's words, Sokov couldn't help but cheered: "Anyway, there is still Chief of Staff Sidorin in the city, and I will let him stay in the city.
Sitting in command, I took the withdrawn troops and rushed to the Baranovichi area as soon as possible to join the deputy commander's troops."
"Misha," Rokossovsky said without commenting on Sokov's statement. He just told Sokov: "You must pay attention to safety."
"Don't worry, Comrade General." Sokov said, "I will pay attention to safety."
After Sokov put down the phone, Sidorin, who heard the conversation between him and Rokossovsky, said: "Comrade Commander, I thought about it carefully. If we adjust the offensive deployment, we can still mobilize troops and rush to Pakistan."
Ranovich joined the assault force commanded by Comrade Deputy Commander."
Unexpectedly, Sokov shook his head after hearing this and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, although I am in a hurry to rush to the Baranovichi area, I cannot easily adjust the offensive deployment here in Minsk to avoid unnecessary incidents."
Hun Lun. Once the German army notices the chaos happening here and takes the opportunity to launch a counterattack, I am afraid it will cause us huge losses. Haste makes waste, and some things cannot be rushed."
While Sokov and Sidorin were in the headquarters, studying the evacuation order of the troops in Minsk, the battle in Baranovichi was in full swing.
The 122nd Brigade, which is responsible for the main attack mission, has successfully controlled half of the city and successfully reached the church near the city center. Although the German headquarters is not located here, it is an important fire support point, which is set up in the bell tower.
The several machine guns on it can block several nearby streets.
During the assault, the Fourth Battalion of the 122nd Brigade suffered fire damage from the bell tower and paid a heavy price. After discussing with the brigade chief of staff, Victor decided to capture the church in the city center first, and then continue to attack other churches.
Advance in the direction and support friendly troops entering the city.
But if you do this, the troops attacking other areas will become weak. But after Ponejelin learned of this situation, he decisively threw all the troops of the 1st and 6th Guards Division into the battle, hoping that with the help of three
The strength of the army can control more territory in the city.
When Onupryenko received Ponedelin's order, he said excitedly: "Comrade Deputy Commander, our troops of two divisions and one brigade have entered the city. I'm afraid that we won't wait until General Batov's troops break the city."
, we can occupy the entire city."
The speaker was unintentional, but the listener was intentional. Ponejelin was originally worried about the lack of troops. Onupriyenko's words gave him a new idea. He asked the communications corps to help him connect to the headquarters of the 65th Army and prepared
Talk to Bartov about cooperation.
After the call was connected, Ponedelin said in a sincere tone: "Hello, General Batov! I am Ponedelin, deputy commander of the 48th Group Army!"
"Hello, General Ponedelin." Batov asked politely: "Can you give me any advice?"
"That's it, General Batov." The purpose of Ponedelin's call to Batov was to use the power of the 65th Army to quickly clear out the German troops in the city and liberate Baranovichi as soon as possible.
"My troops have broken through the German city defenses and successfully rushed into Baranovichi."
"Oh, you have already rushed into the city of Baranovichi?" When Bartov heard what Ponejelin said, he thought that the other party was deliberately showing off to him. Although he was unhappy, he still told the other party out of politeness.
Expressed congratulations: "General Ponejelin, I congratulate you on achieving such remarkable results."
Ponedelin heard the dissatisfaction in Batov's tone. As for why the other party was dissatisfied, Ponedelin naturally knew it well. He smiled and said: "General Batov, I will
You called me to ask for help."
"Asking for help?!" Ponedelin's words confused Bartov: "What kind of help are you asking for?"
"That's it, General Batov." In order to reach cooperation as soon as possible, Ponedelin did not beat around the bush, but said bluntly: "Although my troops have successfully entered the city, due to the limited strength, it is difficult to reach the target.
Now we are beyond our capabilities, so I specifically made a request to you, hoping that you can send troops to support us."
Ponedelin spoke very well. He planned to let Batov's troops enter Baranovichi through the gap opened by the 122nd Brigade. However, in order not to hurt Batov's self-esteem, he turned the invitation into a request for help.
Sure enough, after hearing this, Batov showed a smile on his face: "General Ponejelin, I wonder how I can help you?"
"It's very simple!" Ponejelin heard from Batov's tone that the other party was willing to cooperate, so he continued: "This time we rushed to Baranovich's troops, there were only two divisions and one division.
Brigade, and all of them are infantry. After a long period of fighting, the attrition of the troops has been so serious that today there is a shortage of troops in the battle. So I beg you to send troops to reinforce us."
"General Ponedelin, my troops are attacking the city and have pinned down a considerable part of the German army." Batov said, "This can be considered support for you!"
"Such support is not enough." Ponejelin continued: "I hope your troops can enter the city through the gap we opened and take over or assist our troops to annihilate the defenders in the city."
When Bartov heard this, he was secretly happy. I was worrying about the delay in the troops breaking through the enemy's defense line. Someone invited his troops to enter the battlefield through the opened gap. This was like bread falling from the sky, so he hurriedly said: "No.
Problem, no problem. General Ponejelin, I will send the 23rd and 24th Infantry Divisions to you as soon as possible and enter the city through the opened gap."
The military commissar Rajecki next to him saw Batov's happy face and asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, is there anything happy?"
"Of course, my Comrade Military Commissar." Batov couldn't restrain the joy in his heart and said to Rajecki: "The deputy commander of the 48th Group Army, General Ponedelin, called me and said that his troops had rushed into the enemy's territory.
We have entered the city. However, due to limited troops, we are unable to expand our victory, so we hope we can send reinforcements."
Rajecki originally thought that the troops of the 65th Group Army had breached the city, but he heard that it was the assault troops of the 48th Group Army that breached the city. He was a little disappointed and said disapprovingly: "The troops that entered the city were not us, so what's there to be happy about?"
.”
"Comrade Military Commissar, you can't say that." Batov explained to him with a smile: "Although the assault troops of the 48th Group Army broke through the German defenses and broke into the city, due to their limited strength, they were unable to expand their results.
, so they asked me for help, hoping that I could send troops into the battlefield through the gap they opened and help them clear out the defenders in the city."
"What, they let us enter the city through the gap they opened?" Rajecki was originally absent-minded, but when he heard Bartov say this, he suddenly became excited: "Comrade Commander, if this is the case, why bother?
Immediately give orders to the troops and let them enter the city through the gap opened by friendly forces."
"Yes, I think so too." Batov said to Rajecki: "Our army's attack from the city has attracted most of the defenders in the city, so the city's defense must be empty. We
At this time, if our troops enter the city through the gap opened by friendly forces, they can catch the enemy by surprise, thereby creating favorable conditions for eliminating the enemy in a short time."
Rajecki urged: "Comrade Commander, if this is the case, then give the order quickly. Otherwise, when Marshal Zhukov comes, he will probably scold you again."
Bartov called the chief of staff and told him: "Immediately call the commanders of the 23rd and 24th Infantry Divisions and ask them to rush to the 48th Group Army's combat area as soon as possible and enter the city through the gap opened by friendly forces."
Just when the chief of staff picked up the phone and was about to pass on Bartov's order, Bartov stopped him again and added: "Call the commander of the 3rd Tank Brigade again and order them to also participate in this attack."
fighting."
"Okay!" After hearing what Bartov said, the chief of staff said excitedly: "Comrade Commander, although the role of tanks in urban street fighting will be greatly reduced due to terrain restrictions, with the participation of the 3rd Tank Brigade
, which can greatly speed up the speed of our troops to eliminate the remaining enemies."
After the chief of staff made the call and was about to report to Batov, Zhukov broke in from outside. After briefly greeting everyone, he asked Batov directly: "Batov, how is the situation? How are you?
When will our troops be able to break through the German defenses and rush into the city?"
"Comrade Marshal, please don't be anxious." Batov asked Zhukov to sit down, poured him a cup of tea, and said with a smile: "In half an hour at most, my troops will be able to enter the city of Baranovichi."
Hearing what Batov said, Zhukov showed an unexpected expression on his face: "Batov, is it possible that your attack has been effective and that a certain section of the enemy can no longer support it?"
"Comrade Marshal, the resistance we encountered outside Baranovichi is still stronger than ever before." Batov said to Zhukov: "But we have found other ways to enter the city."
"Other ways to enter the city?" Zhukov asked puzzledly: "What way?"
"That's it, Comrade Marshal." Batov knew that he couldn't hide his cooperation with the 48th Group Army in combat, so he simply said: "The troops commanded by General Ponejelin, deputy commander of the 48th Group Army,
, have successfully rushed into the city of Baranovichi. Although their progress is very smooth, due to the serious shortage of troops, there are many problems in expanding the results. Therefore, General Ponejelin called me and asked me to send troops.
, enter the city through the gap they opened to achieve the purpose of clearing out the defenders."
"Oh, Ponejelin's troops have entered the city of Baranovichi?" Zhukov was surprised to hear the news and asked: "When did it happen?"
"About a few hours ago." Batov explained to Zhukov: "Maybe the German army found that our side was the main force of the attack, so most of the troops in the city were used to prevent our attack. This is also the progress of our department.
The reason for the sluggishness.”
Zhukov did not refute Batov's reasons for the unfavorable attack. He believed that what the other party said was reasonable. In the past few days of the attack, Batov used a huge force to launch a fierce attack on the German army's heavy group.
, naturally attracted the attention of the German army. The troops commanded by Ponejelin could only come into contact with the second and third line troops of the German army. No matter how fierce they fought, due to the limitation of their strength, they would not become the focus of the German army's defense.
When the German army discovers the 65th Group Army's intention to attack Baranovichi, they will definitely mobilize heavy troops and deploy them in the direction of their attack. This is why Batov's troops made smooth progress in the early stage, but became more and more difficult in the later stage.
"Batov, since the friendly forces are willing to let your troops enter the battlefield through the gap they opened, what are you still doing?" Zhukov urged: "Why don't you hurry up and mobilize your troops?"
"Comrade Marshal, please allow me to report to you." the chief of staff said from the side.
"Say it." Zhukov said calmly.
"According to the order issued by Comrade Commander, I have notified the 23rd and 24th Infantry Divisions and the 3rd Tank Brigade to be ready to reinforce friendly forces."
Zhukov smiled after hearing this and said with satisfaction: "Batov, you are very thoughtful. With these two infantry divisions and a tank brigade, I believe the enemy in the city will not be able to sustain it for long.
"
"You are right, Comrade Marshal." At this moment, Bartov was also full of confidence: "The troops entering the city, while supporting friendly forces in combat, can still assist the troops outside the city to break through the German defenses. As long as we are in
When the number of troops in the city reaches four or five divisions, the Germans will not be able to hold on for long and will soon be wiped out by us."
Bartov's judgment was correct. Since the 23rd and 24th Divisions and the 3rd Tank Brigade entered the city, the situation has changed drastically. They first helped capture the church in the city center and then helped the siege troops.
Breaking through the German defenses, the Soviet troops in the city greatly increased.
As the defense line was breached, the German army began to fall into chaos. Many officers and soldiers even abandoned their positions and fled to the city, trying to find a way to escape there.
