In the next two days of fighting, the defense lines of the 3rd Army and the 2nd Assault Army were leveled with Sokov's 48th Army. However, it became very difficult for them to continue to advance deeper into the German defenses.
, the German resistance became extremely tenacious.
After the day's battle, Sokov and others sat in the headquarters, eating dinner and chatting.
Sidorin said puzzledly: "The East Prussia campaign we launched was a desperate defense for the Germans. They had almost no chance of winning. But in the face of our army's attack, they were still resisting tenaciously.
Even the People's Stormtroopers, who have little combat effectiveness, are thrown into the battle. Isn't this the same as letting civilians die in vain?"
Regarding Sidorin's question, Ponedelin expressed his own opinion: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the enemy we are dealing with now is the German army that has just been renamed 'Army Group Northern'. They were in 'Bagraj'
Army Group Center, which was defeated by our army in Operation Ang, retreated to East Prussia for repairs after its defeat.
For them, East Prussia is a holy land in the hearts of Germans, and it is of greater significance to the victory of Germany. Since the 19th century, Germans have considered themselves Prussians, "Prussians will not surrender", "Prussian generals"
These concepts such as "will not betray the country" are deeply rooted in their bones. In order to protect their birthplace, the Germans publicized in East Prussia that "the German nation is on the edge of extinction" and asked a large number of elderly and children to wear
After wearing military uniforms and undergoing simple military training, they joined the war under the leadership of veterans."
Potapov, who was sitting next to Ponejelin, interjected: "I heard that the city of Memel, which originally belonged to Lithuania, was besieged by General Chernyakhovsky's troops as early as October last year, but
Three months have passed and we still have not been able to capture this city."
Hearing Potapov mention Chernyakhovsky, Sokov couldn't help but feel moved. He clearly remembered that Chernyakhovsky was about to become marshal a week before, that is, on February 18.
On the same day, when he was driving to the front line for inspection, he was shelled by the German army and unfortunately died heroically. What is strange is that none of the four people traveling with him were injured.
Seeing that a senior Soviet general would die on the battlefield soon, but not being able to remind him, this made Sokov feel very uncomfortable.
At this time, he heard Sidorin say: "The German 3rd Armored Army and 4th Army have been renovated and replenished in East Prussia, and a large-depth defense belt has been built on the border with dense fortifications and complex tunnels.
.If we want to break through the German defense line, I am afraid we will need the full cooperation of the artillery."
Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, the artillery director Potapov waved his hand and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, your idea is good, but in order to break through the German defense, our artillery alone is not enough. We need to
We know that many of the German fortifications are located in blind spots covered by our artillery bombardment. No matter how many artillery shells we use, we cannot destroy these German fortifications. Once our infantry launches an attack, these hidden fortifications will cause us harm.
Huge casualties.”
Potapov's words aroused Sokov's curiosity, and he asked tentatively: "Comrade Artillery Director, do you have any good ideas to deal with the German fortifications?"
"Artillery bombardment is definitely necessary." As an artillery director, Potapov will naturally not forget his responsibilities: "We must first destroy the more obvious fortifications on the defensive zone, and those that are highly concealed and dangerous to our infantry
Fortifications that pose a huge threat should be left to the air force to deal with."
"Yes, Misha is right." Ponejelin agreed: "To destroy the German fortifications, artillery alone is not enough. It also requires the support of the air force. Those fortifications that cannot be destroyed by artillery fire are nothing more than
They are in a blind spot for artillery fire, but in order to ensure the range of fire, their position is particularly conspicuous, making them perfect targets for our air force's bombing."
Sokov had already forgotten about Chernyakhovsky at this moment. He was eager to know how to destroy the strong German defenses and open up an offensive path for his offensive troops.
Seeing that Sokov seemed to be interested in this topic, Ponedelin took the initiative and said to him: "Comrade Commander, should you call the Marshal and report to him what we discussed?"
"Well, Comrade Deputy Commander, what you said makes sense." In response to Ponedelin's proposal, Sokov nodded and said, "I'll call him right now."
When he got through to the front army headquarters, the person who answered the phone happened to be Rokossovsky. When he heard that the person calling him was Sokov, he asked directly: "Misha, what do you want to see me for?"
?"
"Comrade Marshal, the situation is like this." Sokov said into the microphone: "Although the front lines of the 3rd Army and the 2nd Assault Army have been leveled with our group army, because the German defenses are too strong, we continue to attack
It becomes very difficult to move forward.”
"Yes, this is indeed the case." Rokossovsky felt that Sokov would not call him for no reason. He must have something important to say, so he took the initiative to ask: "Have you figured out
What’s a good idea?”
Sokov glanced at Potapov, who was sitting next to him, and said modestly: "Comrade Marshal, in fact, this method was thought up by my artillery director, General Potapov. He felt that it was just a matter of artillery fire on the German positions.
Covering cannot destroy some fortifications located in blind spots, and these indestructible fortifications will cause us huge casualties when our infantry launches an attack, so other methods must be used to destroy these German fortifications."
"Then have you thought of a good idea?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal, we have figured out a way." Sokov said: "Those fortifications that cannot be destroyed by artillery fire are usually located in more conspicuous positions. If we dispatch the air force, they can be easily destroyed."
"In the past two days, we have also dispatched the air force to bomb the enemy's defensive positions." Rokossovsky sighed and said, "But the effect achieved was not obvious."
"The accumulation of quantity will inevitably lead to qualitative changes." After Sokov said this pretense, he continued: "I think the reason why the two days of bombing did not achieve the desired results is because the size of the air force we dispatched was too large.
Small."
"The size of the dispatched air force is too small?" Hearing what Sokov said, Rokossovsky couldn't help but frowned. "Our 6th Air Force Army dispatches an aviation division's fighter planes every day to carry out frantic attacks on German ground targets.
Bombing was carried out indiscriminately, but it still didn’t have much effect.”
"Less, there are too few aircraft for one aviation division." Sokov shook his head and said: "If you want to completely destroy the German defense system, you must use large batches of uninterrupted bombings, so that the Germans have no time to attack.
Repair the fortifications. In this case, if our army launches an attack on the enemy's defense line, the chance of breaking through their defense line will be greatly improved."
"Misha, if according to what you said, large-scale, non-stop bombing of German positions is carried out, the ammunition and fuel consumed will increase exponentially." Rokossovsky said hesitantly: "If
If we really do this, the ammunition and fuel stored by the Air Force can only last a few days. After the ammunition and fuel are consumed, our Air Force will no longer be able to provide air support to the ground forces for a long time."
"You are right, Comrade Marshal." Sokov agreed with Rokossovsky's concerns, but he continued: "But have you ever thought about it, maybe after these few days of bombing are over,
Huge holes will be torn open in the German defense line, and our troops will be able to penetrate deep into their defenses through these holes."
Regarding Sokov's statement, Rokossovsky frowned and thought about it, and felt that it was very reasonable. He nodded and said: "Misha, what you said makes sense. But this matter is very important.
I still need to discuss with the leaders of the front army before making the final decision."
The call between Rokossovsky and Sokov was also heard by Bogolyubov, the chief of staff. As soon as Rokossovsky put down the phone, he couldn't wait to say: "Comrade Commander, I think
General Sokov's proposal cannot be adopted."
Rokossovsky asked noncommittally: "Why?"
"The reason is very simple." Bogolyubov said: "During this period, our air force has already mastered the air superiority on the battlefield. But if, as General Sokov said, we carry out large-scale, non-stop bombings on the German defensive positions,
, then the little fuel and ammunition stored by the Air Force will soon be exhausted. Aircraft without fuel and ammunition will not be able to fight at all. In this way, the German Air Force will regain air superiority on the battlefield, which will lead to us
The ground troops were unable to obtain cover from the air when attacking."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, I admit that what you said is very reasonable." Rokossovsky looked at Bogolyubov and said: "But we have been shelling and bombing the German positions for the past two days, but we have never been able to
Destroy the strong German defenses, thereby slowing the advance of the troops."
He picked up the tea cup on the table and took a sip, and continued: "You know, the East Prussian Campaign has only been carried out for three days, but our army's casualties have exceeded 70,000, and the wedge into the German defense area is just a mere
Several kilometers. If we continue to fight like this, not only will the morale and morale of our officers and soldiers be affected, but the Supreme Command will also be dissatisfied with our performance."
Bogolyubov, who originally wanted to refute Rokossovsky, suddenly shut up when he heard the other party mentioned the Supreme Command. Yes, the failure of the attack of the Third Belarusian Front some time ago made Stalin furious. What if
The inability of his Second Front to achieve brilliant results in a short period of time may also arouse the dissatisfaction of the Supreme Commander himself.
After a pause, Bogolyubov asked cautiously: "Comrade Marshal, I wonder what your plans are?"
"As the battle progresses now, our first task is to break through the German defenses as soon as possible and lead the war to the enemy's controlled area." Rokossovsky said: "I think we should follow Misha's suggestion and dispatch all air forces.
Carry out large-scale, non-stop bombings on German positions to completely destroy the German defense system and open a gap for our offensive forces."
"Comrade Marshal," seeing that Rokossovsky had already made up his mind, Bogolyubov knew that nothing would change if he continued to persuade him, so he changed the subject in time: "I think we should inform the logistics department.
Seize the time to rush to transport the ammunition and fuel needed by the air force. Our air force has enough ammunition and fuel to ensure that it can provide necessary air cover for ground troops while intensifying bombing of German positions."
"Well, we should give this kind of greeting to the logistics department." Rokossovsky said: "But I also want to remind them that while increasing the delivery of ammunition and fuel to the Air Force, it cannot affect the supply and transportation work to other units.
.”
"Understood, Comrade Marshal." Bogolyubov nodded and said, "I will immediately convey your order to the logistics department."
Rokossovsky nodded and said with emotion: "Today's wars are all about logistics. If the supplies cannot keep up, even if we have the advantage in troops and equipment, we will not be able to achieve the final victory. This point was made in Chapter 1
It was confirmed during the three battles of Kharkov."
As a senior commander, Bogolyubov naturally knew that the Third Battle of Kharkov that Rokossovsky mentioned was after the end of the Battle of Stalingrad, when the Southwest Front and the Voronezh Front were on the left bank of the Dnieper River.
The attack on Manstein's troops.
At the beginning of the battle, the Soviet army was at an absolute advantage in terms of strength and equipment. From the beginning of this battle, it was a bit like adults beating children. The Soviet army was an adult, while Manstein's German army was
That little kid. At that time, almost everyone felt that it was just a matter of effort to eliminate the enemies on the left bank of the Dnieper River.
But the next development was far beyond everyone's expectations. Since the Soviet logistics supply base was more than a thousand kilometers away from the front line, the roads, railways, bridges and culverts along the way were all damaged to varying degrees by the German army.
, As a result, supplies came very slowly and very little, which was not enough to make up for the Soviet army's consumption on the battlefield.
As a result, at the end of the battle, the Soviet army, which was supposed to win, was beaten to pieces by the weak German army. This battle established Manstein's prestige, and he won the title of "Conqueror of Sevastopol".
"After the title, he fought again to become a god and became a demon that frightened the Soviet army.
"Don't worry, Comrade Marshal." Bogolyubov assured Rokossovsky: "Our Second Belarusian Front is not the Southwest Front or the Voronezh Front. We will never lose to the Germans."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, I feel relieved to see you have such confidence." Rokossovsky waved his hand to Bogolyubov and said: "Hurry up and call the Minister of Logistics to inform us of our decision.
he."
While Bogolyubov was on the phone, Rokossovsky looked up at the map on the wall, thinking to himself: Is Misha's suggestion really effective? Our artillery is attacking the German defensive positions.
While preparing for artillery fire, the air force is dispatched to carry out large-scale and non-stop bombings against the enemy. Can it really destroy the German defense system and open a gap for our troops to rush into the depth of the enemy's defense?
