At the headquarters of the 65th Army, the chief of staff, General Glebov, could not help but be shocked after answering a phone call. He immediately put down the phone, walked quickly to Batov, who was standing in front of the map, and reported to him: "Comrade commander, something unexpected has happened, General Panov's 1st Guards Tank Army suddenly broke away from the area of operations of our army group and turned around and drove west. ”

"Hell, what's going on with Panov, why are the troops being transferred to the west at such a time?" After listening to Glebov's report, Batov couldn't help but say with some annoyance: "Don't he know that we want to continue to advance and must have the full cooperation of the tank troops?" ”

Seeing that Batov rushed to the phone and was about to call Panov to ask for his guilt, Glebov hurriedly grabbed him and said cautiously: "Comrade commander, I knew General Panov before the war, he is a cautious person, if he had not received orders from his superiors, he would not have commanded the troops to leave the battlefield without authorization at such a critical juncture of the war." In my opinion, you should call and ask the headquarters of the front army to see if Comrade Marshal has made any other arrangements. ”

Without waiting for Batov to call, Rokossovsky's call came in first. He said straight to the point: "Batov, I have ordered Panov's 1st Guards Tank Corps to turn west to the town of Thorn in the middle reaches of the Vistula. The next attack will be on your own. ”

"Comrade Marshal, why did you transfer the tank corps at this time?" Knowing that the 1st Guards Tank Army was transferred by Rokossovsky, Batov was a little anxious, and he hurriedly said into the microphone: "You must know that the German defense line has been broken through by our army group troops, and now is the best time to expand the results of the battle. As soon as the tank army was transferred, there were very few tanks that could be used by our group army. On our way forward, there are several rivers, where the enemy may lay out new defenses, and without the support of tank forces, it will be difficult for us to achieve a breakthrough in the shortest possible time. ”

"General Batov," Rokossovsky said unhappily when he heard Batov complaining to himself, "Could it be that you would not have fought without the cooperation of tanks?" You should use the artillery you have and the infantry to carry out the assault and break through the new lines of defense that the Germans may build. ”

After Rokossovsky and Batov greeted each other, he put down the phone and asked Bogolyubov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, where has the 8th Guards Tank Army arrived?" ”

"Here," Bogolyubov replied, pointing to the position to the north of the 65th Army, "they have entered the area of the Pustusk fortifications and are ready to fight." ”

"Immediately send a telegram to the commander of the army and ask them to attack immediately." Rokossovsky pointed his hand to the center of the fortified area and said: "Quickly occupy the town of Puutusk and destroy the enemy entrenched in the town." ”

After Bogolyubov recorded the order, he was about to leave when he was stopped by Rokossovsky. Rokossovsky went on to dictate the order: "Let the mechanized 8th Army quickly cross the Narev River, enter the battlefield from the area of operations of the 48th Army, and attack the recalcitrant German 129th Infantry Division." ”

With a series of orders, the Soviet offensive became fierce again, and the Germans were unable to parry. The town of Puutusk, in the center of the fortified area, lasted less than an hour in the face of the attack of the 8th Guards Tank Army, and the defenders were either killed or laid down their arms and surrendered to the Soviets.

And General Panov's 1st Guards Tank Army decisively rushed to the west, shattering the defensive line of the German 2nd Army. The 8th Guards Tank Army, which occupied Putusk, after a short rest, moved simultaneously with the 8th Mechanized Army in the south and north, quickly broke through the German defense line and rushed towards Qiqinglao, which was in depth of defense.

Seeing that the war was going so smoothly, the commanders of the front army headquarters were all beaming with joy. Just as the news was spreading, Bogolyubov came over again and reported to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Marshal, I have just received a telegram from the commander of the 5th Guards Tank Army, General Volsky, that his troops have entered the attack position and are ready to enter the battle at any time. ”

Several of the chiefs of the Front sitting next to Rokossovsky heard what Bogolyubov said, and their faces showed relieved smiles, everyone knew that the German army was already in chaos at the moment, and if a powerful tank army that had made great achievements in the Battle of Kursk was thrown into battle, the defeat of the German army would enter the countdown.

But Rokossovsky, after listening to Bogolyubov's report, did not immediately express his position. After pondering for a long time, he said to Bogolyubov: "Call General Volysky back and order them to stay where they are for the time being." I'll let them know when the time comes. ”

Bogolyubov did not expect Rokossovsky to answer himself like this, and could not help but stand in place in a daze. Seeing that he had not carried out his order for a long time, Rokossovsky asked again: "Comrade Chief of Staff, do you have anything else?" ”

"No, no." Hearing Rokossovsky ask himself, Bogolyubov hurriedly shook his head like a rattle and said: "I'm going to send a telegram to General Volysky and ask his tank army to stand by for the time being." ”

After waiting for Bogolyubov to leave, Trubnikov asked Rokossovsky in bewilderment: "Comrade Marshal, since our tank army is already in place, why not let them attack immediately?" You know, this is the battle of Kursk, the establishment of great meritorious troops, with them out of the horse, presumably the German defense line will collapse in the shortest possible time. ”

"Comrade Deputy Commander, I know that they are a unit with outstanding combat achievements, and by throwing them into the battlefield will make the situation develop in the direction favorable to our army in the shortest possible time." Rokossovsky slapped twice with the palm of his hand on the position of the 5th Guards Tank Army, and continued: "It is getting late now, and allowing such a large group of troops to fight in an unfamiliar area at night will only make the area already mired in chaos even more chaotic. Therefore, I don't think it's too late to wait until tomorrow dawn before throwing them into battle. ”

When Rokossovsky finished speaking, he happened to see Bogolyubov, who had returned from sending a telegram, and asked him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what is the situation with the Third Belorussian Front on the right flank?" ”

"There is no news, Comrade Marshal." Bogolyubov shook his head and replied in a complaining tone: "We don't even know when they attacked the Germans and whether the troops broke through the German lines. ”

In response to Bogolyubov's answer, Trubnikov frowned and asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, didn't you take the initiative to establish contact with General Chernyakhovsky's troops?" ”

"We have been in contact with friendly forces on the right flank." Bogolyubov said with some tears and laughter: "But so far, we have not received any news from them. ”