After Ozerov gave the battle order, the division commanders returned to their defense areas one after another to organize troops to launch an attack on the other side of the Augustov Canal. Although the positions on the opposite bank were already empty, due to the lack of equipment for crossing the river, the Soviets had to cut down trees near the station to make rafts for crossing the river, and by the time the first Soviet troops crossed the canal and occupied the positions abandoned by the Germans, it was already two hours later.

During the period of the actions of the 50th Army, Rokossovsky was not idle. He took into account that the Germans had withdrawn two days earlier, and that artillery would be of no use if it were to strike, because the enemy had long since escaped from the range of artillery. Therefore, Rokossovsky could only say to Vershinin: "Comrade Air Force Commander, immediately dispatch warplanes in pursuit of the enemy's fleeing direction, and carry out a heavy bombardment of German formations and military buildings, so that they cannot build new defensive positions in the depth of the defense." ”

"Understood, Comrade Marshal." Vershinin decisively agreed: "I immediately ordered the aviation division to attack and bomb the defensive positions and units of the German army, so that they could not gather forces to resist the attack of our troops." ”

Rokossovsky was furious that Rokossovsky was furious that the air force took the initiative, but the ground forces were unusually slow, and he said to Ozerov: "Comrade General, your troops are moving too slowly, and if you still follow the original plan, wait for the troops of the second echelon to cross the river, and then pursue the troops of the fleeing German 4th Army, you will miss the best fighters." ”

Although Ozerov is also a commander with rich combat experience, he has always been engaged in staff work and lacks the ability to take charge of himself. As soon as he waited for Rokossovsky to finish speaking, he immediately asked cautiously: "Comrade Marshal, what do you say we should do now?" ”

"What should I do?" Rokossovsky snorted coldly and said to him: "Immediately order the troops who have crossed the river to pursue the fleeing German troops." ”

"But our second echelon is still on the march to the Augustov Canal," said Ozerov with some embarrassment, "at least until they have crossed the river and entered the positions on the opposite bank, and then our troops who have occupied the German positions can carry out the pursuit of the fleeing German troops." ”

"When the second echelon crosses the river, it will take at least another hour or two. It is entirely possible that the Germans fled much further for such a long time. Rokossovsky ordered in an unquestioning tone: "I now order the troops on the opposite bank that have occupied the German positions to immediately launch a pursuit of the German troops." ”

"But the positions on the other side are ......" Ozerov tried to persuade him to change this somewhat reckless order after hearing Rokossovsky's order.

"The Germans are all gone," Rokossovsky said with displeasure, staring at Ozerov, "Is it so important whether we have men to defend these positions?" ”

"Understood, Comrade Marshal." Seeing that Rokossovsky was angry, Ozerov hurriedly agreed: "I will send a telegram to the first echelon, ordering them to immediately abandon their existing positions and launch a pursuit of the Germans." ”

"Go, go." Rokossovsky waved his hand at Ozerov and said impatiently: "The Germans have been running for two days, and if you don't move faster, it is estimated that you will not even be able to see the shadow of the enemy." ”

Due to the change in the enemy situation, Rokossovsky did not stop at the headquarters of the 50th Army, but returned to the headquarters of the Front with the commanders of the two arms.

As soon as the three returned to the front headquarters, a telegram from the Air Force came. After reading it, Vershinin frowned slightly and said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Marshal, according to our aerial reconnaissance, within a radius of forty to sixty kilometers in front of the 50th Army, no formed German units were found, only large groups of refugees who fled. Therefore, our air force, having crossed them, carried out bombardment of the German defensive positions. ”

When Vershinin said this, the deputy commander of the Front, Trubnikov, was right next to him, and he asked with a frown: "Comrade General, since you have found a marching contingent on the ground, why not bomb it?" You know, the refugee contingent seen by our reconnaissance planes may have been disguised by German troops? ”

"What if it's a refugee?" Vershinin, despite Trubnikov's rank and position higher than himself, immediately retorted: "Once our bombs fall, they will cause a large number of civilian casualties, so I feel that the decision of the commander of the aviation division is correct, and we cannot rely on our own guesses, and the German people will cause unnecessary casualties." ”

Seeing that Trubnnikov was still arguing with Vershinin, Rokossovsky hurriedly raised his hand to interrupt the two and said to them: "General Vershinin has done the right thing, we have entered German territory as liberators, and we have come to help the German people get rid of the rule of the fascist bloc and its deceptive propaganda that poisons the people. Therefore, even if the refugee contingent discovered by the air force was disguised by the German army, we could not bomb it at will, so as not to cause a bad influence on the German people.

After he said this, seeing Trubnikov's dejected look, he added: "Comrade Deputy Commander, our Air Force did not run in vain, at least bombing the defensive positions of the German army. This will reduce the resistance suffered by our army when attacking fortified positions. ”

Rokossovsky called Bogolyubov in front of him and said to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the situation has changed, the enemy in front of the 50th Army has fled, ready to throw troops into the Northern Front, to shorten the preparation time, preferably tomorrow morning, to start an offensive on the German troops." ”

"What, attack tomorrow morning?" In response to Rokossovsky's order, Bogolyubov asked with some hesitation: "Comrade Marshal, is it too hasty to attack tomorrow morning, I am worried that the troops of reference have not yet made the final preparations." ”

"It's too late, let's prepare while fighting." Rokossovsky sighed and said with some helplessness: "The current situation has changed, if our troops cannot always be in contact with the enemy and deter them, they will be able to gather superior forces in our main attack direction, making our next offensive more difficult." ”

After listening to this, Bogolyubov nodded and said: "I understand, Comrade Commander, I will send a message to several commanders of the group army, asking them to form a fast column overnight, enter the battlefield as soon as possible, and contain the enemy forces who are trying to retreat, so that the main force of our army can annihilate the living forces of the German army in time after entering the battlefield." ”