I find it rather difficult in the evening of my life to recollect everything that happened as time has erased from memory many things, especially rel… - Georgy Zhukov

The nature of encounter operations required of the commanders limitless initiative and constant readiness to take the responsibility for military actions.

We proceeded from the knowledge that we would have to fight a battle-wise, strong and stubborn enemy.

After the Military Council of the front had looked over the ravaged city, they reported to the Supreme Commander:
"The Fascist barbarians have destroyed Warsaw, capital of Poland. With sadistic cruelty they demolished one block of houses after another. The largest of industrial enterprises have been razed to the ground. Dwelling houses have been either blown up or burnt down. Municipal economy is disrupted. Thousands upon thousands of civilians have been annihilated, the rest driven out. It is a dead city."
Listening to people from Warsaw tell about Nazi atrocities during the occupation and especially before the retreat, it was hard to understand the psychology and moral make-up of the enemy.
Polish men and officers took these stories especially hard. I saw battle-scarred Polish soldiers shed tears and pledge then and there to take revenge upon the fiendish foe. As for Soviet soldiers, we were all embittered and filled with determination to punish the enemy well for the atrocities committed. Boldly breaking down all enemy resistance, the troops were rapidly gaining ground.