Just as the 1st Belorussian Front was progressing well, units of the 1st Baltic Front and the 3rd Belorussian Front, in the area west of Vitebsk, surrounded five German divisions.

After seeing this battle report from the General Staff, Rokossovsky said to Malinin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you see, the friendly forces have already surrounded five German divisions, and we, so far, have only broken through the German defense line and have not been able to achieve any great results. ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Ma Linin hurriedly comforted: "Our attack started a day later than the friendly forces, and it is understandable that we did not achieve as great results as them. You should see that our main forces are constantly breaking through the defenses of the Germans; The tank corps were rushing into the depth of the German defenses, and the Dnieper flotilla, which had not participated in the fighting, today also transported marines to seize several crossings on the Berezina River, bankrupting the German attempts to cross the Berezina River from several crossings. ”

"You have a point." After a brief period of loss, Rokossovsky's mood returned to calm. "You call Gorbatov and order him to throw Bakharov's 9th tank corps into battle tomorrow, let the tank corps break through to the rear of the German army group, completely cut off their retreat."

Malinin went to call Gorbatov, and not long after, he came over with a happy face: "Comrade commander, I really didn't expect that you and Comrade Marshal coincided in their thoughts. As early as a few hours earlier, the marshal had asked General Gorbatov to throw the 9th Tank Army into battle, ordering them to launch an offensive in the Dobrica area and advance from the Titovka area to the eastern bank of the Berezina River, seize Staritsa and cut off the road from Mogilev to Bobruisk. ”

After listening to Malinin's story, Rokossovsky looked down at the map, nodded and said: "In the end, it is the marshal, what is considered is thoughtfulness." According to his plan, as long as the 9th Tank Army breaks into the rear of the German group, cuts off all roads, and occupies all the crossings northeast of Bobruisk, then we can complete the encirclement of the German army group in the Bobruisk area. ”

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After two days of fierce fighting, Bakharov's 9th Tank Army, successfully fulfilling Zhukov's order, cut off all roads and occupied all river crossings northeast of Bobruisk, forming an encirclement of the German Bobruisk group from the northeast.

At the same time, Banov's 1st Guards Tank Army, also northwest of Bobruisk, cut off the path of the retreat of five German divisions to the west.

Seeing that the German army group in the Bobruisk area was already encircled, Zhukov left the headquarters of the 3rd Army and returned to the headquarters of the Front, where he continued to command the rest of the battle with Rokossovsky.

Zhukov took the initiative to propose to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Rokossovsky, the main forces of the front should go all the way forward and seize the Osipovichi, Pukhovich and Slutsk regions. As for the Bobruisk group of German troops, which we are besieged, I propose to solve them with two army groups. ”

Rokossovsky thought about Zhukov's proposal for a while before he spoke: "I propose to give this task to Batov's 65th Army and Romanenko's 48th Army. the enemy in the city of Bobruisk was to be destroyed by the 65th Army; The enemy, trapped in the southeast of the city, was left to the 48th Army to solve. ”

"There were more than 40,000 German troops besieged by us." Zhukov pointed to the map in front of him and said to Rokossovsky: "The roads to the south and west are very tightly blocked by us, but in the north and northwest, only the units of the tank corps are holding back the enemy. If the Germans break through with all their might, I'm afraid they will be very difficult to stop. ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Marshal," Rokossovsky hastened to reply, "I will order the fleet of the Dnieper district to transport one or two infantry divisions overnight through the Berezina River to the northeastern crossing of Bobruisk." It is believed that with such a force, it will be possible to crush the German army's attempt to break through to the north. ”

"One or two divisions are far from enough." Zhukov shook his head and said: "In order to get rid of the fate of being annihilated by our army, the Germans will definitely break through frantically to the weak defenses of our army." Therefore, I suggest that you send at least three or four Guards divisions to strengthen the defenses in this direction, and at the same time send in the air force to bomb the Germans who are trying to break through. ”

"I remember, Comrade Marshal." Rokossovsky nodded and said, "I will do what you order." ”

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Seeing that the troops in the Bobruisk area were encircled, the German high command in Berlin also panicked. In order to save the besieged troops, Hitler ordered the commander of the 9th Army, Field Marshal Moder, to replace Field Marshal Busch as commander of Army Group Center.

On the way to Busch's headquarters, Moder, who received the order, saw that the German troops in the brigade were retreating to the rear, and his heart could not help but become depressed.

He came to the headquarters of Bushi, shook hands with the other party, and said bluntly: "Your Excellency, the Führer has entrusted me with a difficult mission, and I will take over your post. ”

After listening to his words, the dismissed Bushi actually felt a sense of relief. He said with a relaxed expression, "I already know this." After a pause, he continued, "But there is a more difficult mission that awaits you. It is to stop the Russian offensive and free our besieged troops. ”

After hearing this, Moder nodded and asked rhetorically, "Your Excellency Marshal, what is the current situation at the front line?" ”

Busch sighed, walked to the map, and said to Moder: "Look at the map, the troops of Bagramyan and Chernyakhovsky, occupied Vittybutsk, Orsa, they continue to advance towards Vilnius and Minsk. Their tactics were ingenious, bypassing the main forces of Army Group Center from our right flank. And Rokossovsky's troops, on the other hand, are attacking Bobruisk and are encircling 40,000 of us here. ”

Regarding the great results achieved by the Soviet army, Moder asked with some puzzlement: "Your Excellency Marshal, why were the Russians able to achieve such great results in this offensive?" ”

Busch shrugged his shoulders and said helplessly: "The tactics they have used in this attack are completely different from their previous tactics, and as a result, our officers are a little overwhelmed. ”

"Ridiculous, this is ridiculous." "It's ridiculous that the Russians just adjusted their tactics, and as a result, our officers won't fight," said Moder angrily. I want them to understand how to win on the battlefield. Then he said to Busch, "Your Excellency, who is the commander of the besieged forces at present?" ”

"It's General Garman!" Busch politely asked, "Do you need to talk to him?" ”

"That's right, Your Excellency Marshal." Moder nodded and said, "Please connect me to his headquarters, and I'm going to talk to him right away." ”