While Rokossovsky's troops, fighting the Germans in the Gomel direction, Vatutin's troops were preparing for a second offensive to liberate Kiev.

On 12 October, Vatutin commanded troops to force a crossing of the Dnieper River and established a landing ground in the Bukrin region, south of Kiev. Due to the enemy's deployment of a large number of forces, including five tank and motorized divisions, in front of the Bukrin landing site, the Soviet offensive ended in failure after two days.

During the recuperation period, Vatutin's troops received an order to change the number of the troops, so he decided to carry out the second assault on the day after the change of numbers.

On October 21, the first battle after the formation of the 1st Ukrainian Front began. Two Guards Divisions attacked from the Bukrin landing ground and launched an attack on the heavily fortified area of the enemy. Although there was support from aircraft, tanks, and artillery, the Soviets achieved very little success. By the first day, before dark, the two Guards divisions had advanced only a distance of less than two kilometers.

At the evening summary meeting, Khrushchev said to Vatutin: "Comrade commander, the front of our offensive is too narrow, and we can only deploy at most two divisions at a time, while the enemy can defend with more than twice our forces. If we continue to fight like this, apart from increasing unnecessary casualties, what kind of results will we not be able to achieve? ”

After listening to Khrushchev's words, Vatutin specially asked Ivanov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what do you think?" ”

Ivanov stared at the map in front of him and said thoughtfully: "Our offensive to Kyiv from the Bukrin landing field is undoubtedly the closest road. But at the same time, we should also be aware that the enemy has long been prepared against our movements, and they have built strong fortifications in this area and deployed artillery fire in depth. If we continue to attack this area, it will be very difficult to achieve anything but to inflict heavy casualties, as Comrade Political Commissar said. ”

"So what do you think we should do?" After listening to this, Vatutin did not express any opinion, but asked rhetorically: "What can we do to get out of the current predicament?" ”

Ivanov and Khrushchev glanced at each other and said: "Marshal Zhukov is the representative of the base camp, and his main responsibility is to be responsible for our coordinated operations with General Konev. Do you want to ask him for his opinion before deciding what we should do next? ”

"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff is right." Khrushchev echoed: "Judging by the situation of today's battle, it is very likely that our offensive will be defeated as last time. Therefore, I think it is absolutely necessary to adjust the direction of the attack. ”

After the discussion, Vatutin called Zhukov, who was directing the work of the Second Ukrainian Front, repeated the words of Khrushchev and Ivanov to him, and finally asked respectfully: "Comrade Marshal, do you think it is necessary for us to adjust the direction of the offensive?" ”

"It's too late to adjust now." After listening to Vatutin's report, Zhukov realized the seriousness of the problem and hurriedly said to him: "The offensive launched from the Bukrin landing ground cannot be stopped, it must be continued. As for whether I need to adjust the direction of the attack, I'll wait until I get back. ”

With Zhukov's permission, the next day Vatutin continued to order troops to attack the fortified German areas from the Bukrin landing ground south of Kiev. In the face of an enemy stronger than themselves, the Soviet offensive did not make any progress, except for the two Guards Divisions that participated in the battle on the first day were disabled, and the two newly transferred divisions also suffered a third of casualties.

Faced with such heavy casualties among his troops, Vatutin finally realized that attacking Kyiv from the south was perhaps a wrong choice. Therefore, on the third day of the battle, he decisively ordered his troops to stop the offensive.

After Zhukov returned from Konev, he immediately consulted with Vatutin and them on the next course of action. Zhukov said to Vatutin: "Comrade Vatutin, I agree with Khrushchev and Ivanov that we are attacking Kyiv from the south, the front of the offensive is too narrow to deploy too many troops, and the enemy has a strong position and firepower in depth, if we continue to carry out a strong assault here, we can only let our commanders and fighters continue to bleed." ”

"So what are we going to do?" As soon as Zhukov finished speaking, Vatutin asked cautiously.

Zhukov stared at the map in front of him for a while, and then said to Vatutin: "You see, in the Lyudezh area north of Kiev, the enemy's defense in this area is relatively weak, we can leave a small number of troops and continue to contain the enemy in the south, while the main force of the front army will recross the Dnieper, go up the river, and attack the enemy from the direction of Lyudezh. When the enemy found out that they had been fooled and wanted to transfer their forces to the defense, they found that it was too late, and our army had already rushed to the city of Kyiv. ”

Vatutin nodded, and then asked, "Then which force should we leave behind to keep the enemy in the vicinity of the Buklin landing field?" ”

"Comrade Commander," said Vatutin as soon as he finished speaking, Ivanov said: "I think it is possible to leave the 40th and 27th armies behind and let them continue to launch feints against the Germans, so that the enemy will not be aware of the change in the disposition of our troops." ”

After Zhukov and Ivanov said this, Vatutin also had a clear idea: "It makes sense, we will leave the main forces of the 40th and 27th armies to contain the enemy at the Bukrin landing site, and the troops including the 38th Army, the 3rd Guards Tank Army, the 5th Guards Tank Army and the 1st Guards Cavalry Army will be secretly transferred from the existing areas and covertly transferred to the Lyudez landing ground north of Kiev. At the same time, we can also order the 60th Army to carry out a surprise attack from the north of the lyujiezh landing site to the southwest of Kiev in order to disperse the enemy's forces......"

After listening to Vatutin's explanation of the new battle plan, Zhukov nodded and said with satisfaction: "Comrade Vatutin, this plan of yours is good, so let's implement it like this." However, I would like to remind you that there is a distance of 200 kilometers from the Buklin landing site to the Lyujiezh landing site, and how your troops can not be detected by the Germans in the process of moving forward is the key to victory or defeat. ”

"I understand, Comrade Marshal." Vatutin nodded and said, "In order to make the enemy think that we will continue to attack in the direction of Buklin, I feel it necessary to prepare a false order ordering the troops to move to the defense on the spot. ”

Zhukov immediately expressed his support for Vatutin's idea: "Comrade Vatutin, your idea is very good. Prepare this false order as soon as possible, and find a way to fall into the hands of the Germans, so that they will fall into our trap. ”

The chief of staff, Ivanov, was in charge of drafting the order, and Vatutin was deliberating with Zhukov on what method should be used to make this false information fall into the hands of the Germans. Although the two thought of a lot of solutions, after saying it, they were denied by the other party one by one.

Seeing the sad looks of the two, Khrushchev smiled and said to them: "Comrade commanders, what's wrong with you? Is it a little difficulty that makes you lose the smile on your face? ”

"Comrade Political Commissar," Vatutin looked at Khrushchev and asked with a wry smile, "Do you have any good way to let this false information fall into the hands of the Germans without arousing suspicion?" ”

"Isn't that easy?" Khrushchev said with a relaxed expression: "You find the body of a soldier, change him into an officer's uniform, put this false information in the satchel he is carrying, and then put his body in the position that our army intends to abandon." When the Germans reoccupied that position, and saw his body and the briefcase on him, they would certainly go back and search him, so that they would naturally discover the false orders we had left for them. ”

"It's amazing, it's amazing." After listening to what Khrushchev said, Vatutin couldn't help but applaud again and again: "Comrade Political Commissar, according to your method, the German army will believe it when they discover this false information." In this way, even if they see that our army is slow to attack, they will take it for granted. ”

After Ivanov finished drafting the order, after hearing Vatutin's way of sending out the false information, he hurriedly called the commander of the 38th Army, Moskalenko, briefly briefed him on the matter, and asked: "Comrade General, are you sure that you will send this information out?" ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Chief of Staff." Moskalenko assured Ivanov: "I will immediately arrange for someone to find the body of a fallen soldier, change him into a captain's uniform, put the fake order in a briefcase, and place his body in the position that the enemy is about to occupy, so that the enemy can discover from him 'in time' our latest battle orders." ”

After arranging all this, Ivanov asked Vatutin: "Comrade commander, everything is arranged. We need to move the 3rd Guards Tank Army of Rybalko across the river as soon as possible, do you think it will be possible to get the sappers to build a few more bridges over the Dnieper? ”

"You have a point." Vatutin nodded and said: "In order for Rybalko's tank troops to cross the Dnieper as soon as possible, the sappers should be ordered to erect two pontoon bridges on the Dnieper overnight that can be used by tanks. ”

Zhukov coughed lightly, and then said: "Comrade Vatutin, tell the commanders below that the action must be swift and covert. Even if the enemy falls for us, they will soon understand, so we don't have much time left. ”

"Comrade Marshal," Vatutin heard Zhukov say this, and hurriedly asked, "I don't know how long you can give us for this transfer?" ”

Zhukov thought for a moment, stretched out a finger, and said decisively: "Ten days, I can only give you ten days at most." If, ten days later, you do not attack from the landing ground of Lyujerge, the Germans may perceive that our surprise attack from the north may be thwarted. ”