Rokossovsky was transferred to the 1st Ukrainian Front as acting commander, but the troops fighting in Belarus could not be left without a leader, and the base camp decided after research to send General Zakharkin to the position of acting commander of the Belarusian Front, responsible for directing the fighting in the Belarusian region.

As soon as Zakharkin arrived at the headquarters of the Front, Batov, who had previously held the post of acting commander, handed him over, and then rushed back to the headquarters of the 65th Army without stopping.

Malinin briefly briefed him on the situation in Belarus, and then asked: "Comrade commander, do you see if it is necessary to bring together the commanders of the various army groups for a meeting with you to study the next operational plan." ”

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Zakharkin shook his head directly and said: "No need, Comrade Chief of Staff." As you should know, I am only temporarily acting commander, and maybe one day General Rokossovsky will return, and then he will still have the final say on the entire Belorussian Front. ”

Malinin also agreed with Zakharkin's statement very much, so he did not insist that Zakharkin convene a military conference, but continued to ask: "Comrade commander, what should we do next?" ”

Zakharkin shrugged his shoulders and said helplessly: "Just follow the battle plan originally formulated by Commander Rokossovsky, and the armies will continue to maintain the current offensive direction and advance to the depth of the German defense." ”

Pointing to the map spread out on the table, Malinin said to Zakharkin: "Comrade commander, if our army continues with the current offensive, it should be able to reach the vicinity of Minsk in mid-December, and then the offensive may be temporarily suspended due to the fatigue of the commanders and fighters, the shortage of soldiers and ammunition, and other factors. I propose that at that time convene a military conference at the level of the head of the army group to work out our next offensive action. ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I agree with your proposal." After Zakharkin said this, he stared at the map in front of him and said to himself: "The 48th Army has already occupied Zhilobin, and if they can continue to advance in the northwest direction to occupy Bilaros, they will be closer to Minsk." ”

After talking about the 48th Army, his attention was drawn to the two red arrows on the left side of the map: "General Batov's 65th Army has approached the vicinity of Kalinkovich; On their left flank, General Belov's 61st Army had reached the approach of Mozyri. ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander." After waiting for Zakharkin to finish speaking, Malinin hurriedly said: "Judging from the current situation, the progress of all army groups is very smooth, but for the sake of safety, I suggest that at the latest the day after tomorrow, the troops should temporarily stop the offensive and turn to the defense on the spot to prevent a possible counteroffensive by the German army." ”

"Why stop?" Zakharkin looked at Malinin and asked puzzledly: "Since the progress of the troops is so smooth, we can completely continue to advance and strive for greater results." ”

"Comrade Commander, I have already said the reason." Malinin solemnly reminded Zakharkin: "The commanders and fighters have become tired after often long battles. Moreover, the troops are seriously understaffed and ammunition, and it is almost impossible to launch a large-scale offensive without replenishment. ”

"The main focus of the Supreme High Command is on the Ukrainian direction," Zakharkin, who has just come to the front from Moscow, naturally knows a lot of inside information that Malinin does not know, "so in this case, we have received not only very few additions, but also very slowly." If we wait passively, then it will be at least until the beginning of next year that we will be able to go on the offensive. ”

Speaking of this, Zakharkin paused, thought for a while, and then said to Malinin: "Immediately give orders to the commanders of the two army groups, Batov and Belov, to speed up their march, to capture Kalinkovich and Mozyr as soon as possible, and to threaten the enemy holding on to Minsk from the south." ”

"No, Comrade Commander, you can't give them such an order." In response to Zakharkin's order, Malinin hurriedly dissuaded: "At present, the distance between the 65th and 48th armies has been widened, the flanks are exposed to the enemy, and if the Germans attack from their flanks, it will put them in danger. ”

Hearing Ma Linin's concern, Zahar Jin laughed, he raised his hand and patted Ma Linin's shoulder and said, "Comrade Chief of Staff, you are too nervous. The Germans are now being defeated by us, and where is there any force to organize a counterattack. If they don't come out, it's enough, and once they do, our morale-boosting troops will wipe them out in the field. ”

Malinin considered that Zakharkin had just taken office today, and if he had a dispute with him as chief of staff, it would have an impact on his prestige, he hurriedly said: "Okay, comrade commander, since you have already made such a decision, I will immediately convey your order to the troops. ”

…………

As soon as Batov returned to his troops, he received a telegram from the command of the Front, ordering his troops to speed up their advance in the direction of Kalinkovich. After reading this telegram, Batov smiled and said to Glebov: "Chief of Staff, you see, the new acting commander Comrade is quite anxious, and he actually gave us an order as soon as he took office, telling us to speed up the offensive and rush to Kalinkovich as soon as possible. ”

"Comrade commander, from what we have, the Germans have placed three divisions in the Kalinkovich direction, and in the south near Mozyri, there is also an armored division, and with the strength of our army, they can be completely defeated." Glebov said confidently: "In order to ensure the smooth offensive, I concentrated the main forces of the army group on the left flank, and when they attacked, they could echo the 61st Army to the south of our army. ”

However, before giving combat orders to the divisions, Batov, who had just returned to the headquarters, cautiously asked: "The main forces are concentrated on the left flank, so isn't our right flank weak?" ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Glebov said disapprovingly: "Judging by all indications, even if there are German troops on our right flank, they are only small forces and will not pose any threat to us." Moreover, even if the Germans attacked our flank, the 304th Infantry Division and the 3rd Tank Brigade would be enough to crush them. ”

If Rokossovsky had been on the Belorussian Front, perhaps he would have reminded Batov to conduct a detailed reconnaissance of his surroundings and find out the enemy's movements before advancing on Kalinkovich. But at the moment, he was far away in Kiev, and he could not be said to be out of reach, and he did not know that Zakharkin had made a wrong decision, and Batov did not take into account all the things that should be considered because of a momentary negligence, which led to huge losses to the troops.

Seeing that his chief of staff had taken all the issues that should be considered, Batov nodded and ordered: "Okay, General Glebov, since your plan is already very thorough, then give orders to the divisions." Let them speed up the advance towards Kalinkovich. ”

Early the next morning, the 65th Army launched a fierce attack on the German positions in front of it. By noon, two of the three lines of German defense to the east of Kalinkovich had been broken through by Batov's troops.

Just as the troops continued to advance, the unexpected happened. The commander of the 304th Division called Batov and hurriedly said: "Comrade commander, no, a large number of German units were found opposite us. ”

"What, German troops were spotted on your front?" When Batov heard the report of the division commander and thought that the division commander was making a fuss, he casually asked: "What kind of troops is the enemy?" ”

"A lot," replied the division commander with some panic, "there are probably more than forty tanks, rushing towards our forward positions, and behind them are a tidal wave of soldiers, and I estimate that there are at least two or three divisions. ”

"Calm down, Comrade Division Commander, please stay calm." Hearing that the Germans, with two or three divisions of troops, launched an attack on their right flank, Batov's heart could not help but rise to his throat, and he hurriedly ordered the division commander: "We must hold our positions at all costs, and we must not let them rush to the rear of the main attacking troops." I'll give the tank brigade an order right away and let them go and reinforce you. ”

He put down the phone and said to Glebov: "Chief of Staff, immediately give the order to the 3rd Tank Brigade to make a sortie to repel the German units that are rushing to the right flank of our army." Also, give orders to the troops that are rushing towards Kalinkovich to temporarily stop the offensive and move to the defense on the spot. ”

Hearing a series of orders from Batov, Glebov cautiously said: "Comrade commander, the situation on the right flank may not be as serious as the commander of the 304th Division said, right?" You know, our frontal attack is going very well, and if we stop at this time, we will lose all our efforts. ”

In fact, Batov did not have the same idea in his heart, but for the sake of prudence, he still decisively ordered Glebov: "Chief of Staff, no matter what the size of the German troops attacking the right flank of our army, our offensive must be temporarily stopped until they are destroyed." ”

"But Comrade Commander, the battle has been fought so far, and it is not something that can be stopped with an order." Glebov again persuaded Batov: "Why don't we send another division from somewhere else to reinforce the right flank, believing that such a force will be enough to crush the German offensive?" ”

Batov hesitated for a moment about Glebov's new proposal, and then said: "Wait until I call the commander of the 304th Division to find out what kind of size of enemy will make a decision after the attack." ”