In the early days of the war, relying on its full war preparations, rich combat experience, and favorable situation created by a surprise attack, the German army made quite brilliant progress in the face of the Soviet army's lack of preparation, and advanced several hundred kilometers into the hinterland of the Soviet Union in half a month. In the early days of the war, many Soviet troops stationed close to the border put up stubborn resistance, relying on their cities, fortresses and outposts. Rokossovsky and the others were about to go to Vvodava, where fierce battles were going on at the moment.

The troops guarding the city, the 99th Infantry Division. The division, under the leadership of the previous division commander Vlasov, became one of the most combat-ready divisions of the Kyiv Special Military District, so in each exercise they were used as a Blue Army unit. It was precisely because of the strong combat effectiveness of the troops that even if they were taken by surprise by the Germans, the division commanders still quickly organized effective resistance, so that the Germans could not occupy the city for a long time.

However, as time passed, the reinforcements promised by the superiors did not appear, and the Germans continued to attack tirelessly. In this case, the morale of the troops inevitably became low. The division commander, Colonel Ivan Ivanovich Blazevich, received a call from a forward position in his command.

It was a battalion commander of the division who called, and the other party's depressed and desperate voice came from the receiver: "Comrade division commander, we can no longer hold on." The Germans charged at us one after another, and our machine guns were constantly strafing, but they could not stop their attack. We can't hold it anymore, the nerves of the fighters can't stand it anymore, it's time for us to retreat. ”

Blazevich asked angrily: "Comrade battalion commander, where are you going to retreat?" How far is it going? ”

"Comrade division commander, I don't know." The other party replied in a panic: "Anyway, we must retreat immediately, in these two days of fighting, all our anti-tank weapons have been lost, if we do not retreat immediately, by the time the German tanks rush up, we will be all finished." ”

Hearing his subordinates say this, Blazevich was furious, and he yelled into the microphone: "Comrade battalion commander, I think you must know very well in your heart that Cowell is occupied by the Germans, and we have no way to retreat now. You have to hold on to me, what, you can't do it? Well, then, you retreat alone, go and be a shameful deserter, leave the troops to me, and I will personally direct them to continue the fight. ”

After speaking, Blazevich threw the microphone on the table, and ordered the chief of staff in anger: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I will take the guard company to the front, and you will be responsible for it here." ”

The chief of staff looked at Blazevich and persuaded with a complicated expression: "Comrade division commander, you can't go, the front is too dangerous." The deputy commander of the political division was killed by a German shell yesterday while inspecting the front line. If anything happens to you, our division will be finished. ”

Blazevic waved his hand unceremoniously and said stubbornly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I don't need you to worry about my safety. If I have any strengths and weaknesses, you will take over the post of my division commander and continue to command the troops to fight. After saying that, he couldn't speak to the chief of staff, so he quickly walked out of the headquarters.

Blazevich, who left the headquarters, ran with the guard company along the streets, where shells exploded from time to time, towards the most intense part of the fighting. Although the flying shrapnel constantly knocked down the fighters on the left and right, he did not slow down his advance at all, because he was worried that the panicked battalion commander would retreat with his troops without authorization, so that the originally precarious defense line would be broken through.

When he reached the position of the battalion headquarters, he was stunned by what he saw, the sturdy two-story building at the crossroads, which had become a mess of rubble under enemy fire. The ruins were filled with smoke, and the remains of commanders and fighters could be seen everywhere in the ruins.

Blazevich looked at the end of the street, took the help of the rubble pile as a cover, and walked towards the approaching German troops step by step, smiled bitterly, and then ordered the guards and soldiers who rushed over with him: "All immediately enter the position and prepare for battle!" ”

At this time, next to a forest three kilometers west of Vvodava, the trucks of the Schertyuk Infantry Division were neatly parked on the side of the road, and all the fighters, except for the wounded, got out of their cars and formed a neat phalanx in front of them.

In the forest by the roadside, Rokossovsky and Scherstyuk were supposed to provide support to their allies, while Fomin stood silently, quietly listening to their attack plan.

"Comrade General," Scherstyuk said first, "according to the reports of the scouts, the Germans have now stormed the city and are engaged in street battles with our troops. I suggested concentrating my forces and attacking from the rear of the German army to relieve the danger of the 99th Infantry Division in the city. ”

After hearing this, Rokossovsky hesitated for a moment before he said slowly: "General Scherstyuk, do you know where the artillery of the Germans is deployed, except for the infantry besieging the city?" ”

Scherstyuk looked at the map for a moment, then pointed to the south of Vvodava and said with certainty: "According to my judgment, the German artillery should be deployed to the south of the city." ”

After Scherstyuk finished speaking, Rokossovsky continued, "Before launching an attack on the city, we should first destroy the German artillery, otherwise when the troops rush into the city, they will concentrate their artillery fire on us, and the troops will pay heavy casualties." ”

Scherstyuk said with emotion: "If only the tank division were here, even if the tanks did not open fire, they could be completely eliminated by rushing over and crushing the German artillery positions." ”

"It will take an hour or two at the earliest for the tank division to arrive here. When they arrived, they would attack the enemy's artillery positions, but it would be too late. Rokossovsky pointed to a small detachment of six German tanks parked not far away, and continued, "Comrade General, you should send two companies to cooperate with this detachment to assault the German artillery positions." ”

Schertyuk said yes and was about to turn away, but was stopped by Rokossovsky. Rokossovsky said: "Comrade General, don't forget that we are now disguised as Germans, so don't shout and kill from afar." You have to pretend to be reinforcements from the Germans, and when you get close to them, you only need one charge to get rid of the enemy's artillery positions, and you can also minimize the casualties of our commanders and fighters. ”