Rokossovsky, as commander of the Central Front, could not concentrate all his energy on the 60th Army. After arranging for the air force and artillery to help Chernyakhovsky's troops, he turned his attention to the 65th Army, which, according to the original offensive plan, was the area that this unit was responsible for.

During this time, Batov felt particularly aggrieved, thinking that his troops would take on the offensive task of the main direction of attack, and there would definitely be a series of dazzling achievements, which made his superiors look at him differently. As soon as the battle began, he found that in the direction he was responsible for, the German army not only had a solid defense system, but also gathered a heavy army group.

When his troops changed from the original main direction of attack to the direction of assisting, it was a great blow to Batov, and in order to reverse this situation, he had to work twenty hours a day, and when he was tired, he would lie on the table and sleep for a while, and then resume his work when he woke up. In this way, in just half a month, he lost twenty pounds.

When Chief of Staff Glebov told him that the commander of the front had called him, the general, who was nearly fifty years old, his heart beat suddenly accelerated. He took the microphone from the chief of staff with some nervousness, and after taking two deep breaths, he politely said into the microphone: "Hello, Comrade Commander of the Front Army. ”

"Hello, General Batov." Rokossovsky smiled on the phone and asked, "How's your progress?" ”

"Report to Comrade Commander," Batov quickly replied, hearing Rokossovsky's question, "that we, together with the troops of the 48th Army, have successfully crossed the Desna River and entered into fierce battles with the Germans in the Gomel direction. Although the Germans took advantage of the forests and swamps and put up stubborn resistance, our troops advanced step by step. ”

"General Batov, your offensive is a little too slow." Rokossovsky said into the microphone: "The troops of the 61st Army, newly transferred to us from the base camp, launched an offensive at Chernihiv, north of the 13th Army. They followed the enemy across the Snov River and advanced to the banks of the Dnieper. At present, they are organizing forced crossings and preparing to establish landing sites in the area of Nivki and Glushets on the right bank. ”

Hearing Rokossovsky say this, Batov became a little excited, "Comrade commander, please rest assured, the 65th Army has always been a unit with outstanding achievements, and its poor performance during this period is due to various reasons. I assure you that in a week's time, we will have great results. ”

"Well, that's good, Comrade Batov." Rokossovsky waited for Batov to finish, and then said: "Since you are so confident, then I will wait for you to report the good news to me." By the way, do you have any difficulties? You can bring it up to me now. ”

"Comrade commander," said Batov, who hesitated for a long time, "in the area where we are fighting, due to the inability to gain air supremacy, the attacking troops are vulnerable to bombing by the Germans, causing unnecessary losses. I hope that General Rudenko will send us at least one aviation division to ensure air supremacy on the battlefield. ”

Rokossovsky thought for a moment about Batov's request, and then decisively agreed: "Okay, Comrade Batov, I will contact General Rudenko immediately." I assure you that starting tomorrow, at least our fighters will be visible at any time in your area of operations. ”

After the end of the phone call with Batov, Rokossovsky and Malinin discussed it and felt that the Air Force should not only support the 60th Army, but also send a sufficient number of combat aircraft to the 65th Army's operational area. After the results of the discussion came out, Rokossovsky immediately called Rudenko and asked straight to the point: "General Rudenko, now that Batov's operational area needs the support of the Air Force, how many planes do you send to them?" ”

Rudenko thought for a moment, and then replied: "Comrade commander, you should know that our main forces are used on the right bank of the Dnieper to fight the enemy for air supremacy. Even if General Batov needs support, we can only draw one flying regiment at most. ”

"No, one flying group is too few." As soon as Rudenko's words were finished, they were refuted by Rokossovsky. He thought for a moment and continued: "General Rutenko, under your command, aren't there still two women's flying regiments? Since the end of the Battle of Stalingrad, I don't seem to have heard about their participation in the war. You can't hide them in such a pinch. ”

"Comrade Commander, you don't know anything." When Rudenko heard Rokossovsky's criticism, he quickly defended himself: "It's not that I don't want to send them to war, but because the planes they are equipped with are all imported from Britain." After a long flight, those planes were more or less out of order. Until the spare parts arrived, I had to temporarily ground them. ”

"If spare parts don't arrive until after the war, are you going to make them wait until after the war?" Rokossovsky said unceremoniously: "You have been a pilot for a long time, don't you know how to dismantle a few planes and use their parts to replace parts for those aircraft that participated in the war?" ”

"I see, Comrade Commander." Rudenko actually wanted to see it this way for a long time, but he was afraid of being opposed by Rokossovsky, so he could only passively wait for spare parts from the UK. Having Rokossovsky's permission at the moment, he immediately replied confidently: "Initially tomorrow afternoon, I will be able to get the women's flying regiment back into battle." ”

After Rudenko put down the phone, he called his chief of staff from the outside room and instructed him: "Chief of staff, call the 587th and 588th regiments, and ask Major Roslava and Lieutenant Colonel Bosanskaya to come to me immediately." ”

When the chief of staff heard Rudenko say this, his eyes lit up and asked tentatively: "Comrade commander, are you going to put the women's flying regiment into battle?" ”

"Yes," Rudenko replied truthfully, "by tomorrow afternoon at the latest, the two women's flying regiments will all be put into battle." ”

"But, Comrade Commander." The chief of staff remembered that many planes could not be lifted into the air because of damaged parts, so he hurriedly reminded Rudenko: "Many of our planes lack spare parts and cannot be put into battle at all." ”

"You don't have to worry about that." Rudenko waved his hand at the chief of staff and said confidently: "We can dismantle a few planes and replace parts to ensure the normal use of the fighters." ”

Ten minutes later, Roskova and Posian Anskaya came to the headquarters of the army group. Since the chief of staff did not mention anything at all when he called, the two were still asking each other before entering the door, what was Rudenko in such a hurry to recruit himself.

The two walked into Rudenko's office, and Rudenko quickly got up from his seat, walked around the table, stepped forward to shake hands with the two female commanders, and said: "Welcome, comrades female commanders. Please sit down, I have important tasks for you. ”

After the two female commanders were seated in the two single sofas in front of their desks, Rudenko returned to his seat and said to the two: "According to the order of the superiors, starting tomorrow, we will send the strength of an aviation division to the Gomel region to provide the necessary air support for the 65th Army, which is fighting in the area......"

After Rudenko finished explaining the task, Persian Anskaya said with some embarrassment: "Comrade commander, you should know that the planes in our regiment are all British goods. Due to the lack of sufficient spare parts, our aircraft could not be taken into the air for combat. If you don't solve the spare parts for us, I feel that we may not be able to complete the task you have delivered. ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Rudenko smiled at Posianskaya and said: "You can dismantle a few planes and provide spare parts for combat aircraft." ”

"Comrade commander," Persian Anskaya said with some hesitation when she heard Rudenko say this, "but if you are not careful, you will be sent to a military tribunal." ”

"I know, I know." Rudenko nodded again and again and said: "The reason why I didn't let you do this for a long time before is also based on this consideration. However, just now, the commander of the front army took the initiative to call me and asked us to send the air force to support General Batov's 65th Army. Go ahead and be bold. ”

After receiving Rudenko's assurances, both Roslava and Persian Anskaya's worries were dashed. Both stood up at the same time and said to Rudenko: "Comrade commander, please allow us to return to the troops immediately, and we will go and arrange the replacement of spare parts for the aircraft." ”

Rudenko nodded, smiled at the two of them and said, "You guys hurry back to the army, I hope to hear your good news as soon as possible." ”

The two female commanders stood upright, held their heads high, raised their hands to salute Rudenko, turned around and walked out of the office with neat steps.