Rokossovsky's plan for this ambush was not made on a whim, but after analyzing the specific situation on the battlefield. As a mechanized corps commander with only a few tanks, he could no longer carry out a counter-assault on the enemy without any hope of victory in accordance with the orders issued by his superiors, and could only inflict heavy losses on the enemy through fortification or nearby.

A tank division of the 16th Army with more than three hundred tanks. Korokossovsky's mechanized corps, since it was at the stage of formation, the tanks of the two tank divisions together were less than half of the former. Although a number of tanks were captured during the surprise attack on the German logistics base in Lublin, a number of outdated old tanks were also discarded, so that only more than 120 tanks can be used by the whole army.

The more than 100 tanks could not be taken away, and some of them had to be left for mobility. So after consideration, Rokossovsky decided to leave forty tanks behind and let Maslov stay in command, while he personally led the main force of the tank division and the artillery regiment to ambush on the road from Dubno to Rivne, preparing to block and inflict heavy damage on the fast column of the German army.

In addition to many large plains, there were also many forests and swamps in Ukraine, so that the German troops could only advance along the main road. Rokossovsky chose the ambush in a forest far from the road. In addition to more than 80 tanks, there was also an artillery regiment of the 20th Tank Division, which had just been equipped with 85-mm field guns. As for the motorized battalions to which the two tank divisions belonged, they were deployed in the forests closer to the direction of Rivne to prevent the Germans from continuing to rush towards Rivne after breaking through the line of defense formed by the tank artillery of the mechanized corps.

Rokossovsky and his two division commanders, staying in the improvised observation post, gathered in front of their respective binoculars and looked intently at the road a few hundred meters away.

More than half an hour later, the roar of the motors of armored vehicles could be heard in the distance. Hearing this voice, Chernyaev couldn't help but be overjoyed, and hurriedly put down his binoculars and said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, the fast column of the Germans is coming. ”

In fact, even if Chernyaev didn't say anything, Rokossovsky heard the sound of the German column. He nodded, and then said: "Comrade Colonel, you immediately give an order to the artillery regiments to prepare them to shoot and as soon as the German column enters our ambush circle, immediately open fire." ”

The Germans soon appeared in front of Rokossovsky, and when they saw this column of tanks, armored vehicles, and motorcycles, Rokossovsky's heart was a little drumming for no reason. Although the enemy's strength and his own troops were small, because their marching ranks were too long to see the tail, it was almost impossible to beat them to the point of infighting with these tanks and artillery in their hands.

Seeing that the German column had entered their own ambush circle, Rokossovsky was slow to give the order to open fire, and both Novikov and Chernyaev looked at him suspiciously. Especially Chernyaev, who held the microphone in his hand, kept in constant communication with the artillery regiment.

Seeing that the enemy had passed almost a third of the way, Rokossovsky secretly sighed, put down his binoculars, turned to Chernyaev and said: "Comrade Colonel, order the artillery to open fire!" ”

Chernyaev, who had been waiting for this order for a long time, immediately shouted excitedly: "Yes! Then he shouted an order into the microphone, "The commander ordered, all the artillery fired!" ”

With his order, it didn't take long for the sound of cannon discharges to be heard in the forest. Bursts of screams rang out, and shells whistled and exploded in the German marching columns. Tanks and armored vehicles near the explosion point either caught fire and exploded, or were overturned by the air wave of artillery shells. Tanks and armored vehicles were still vulnerable to the explosion of artillery shells, and the soldiers who sat on motorcycles and flaunted their might were blown apart by the explosion......

Although the first round of shelling achieved good results, the enemy's ranks were too scattered. With this limited number of twenty-four cannons, it is simply impossible to block this long road. Although the Germans were stunned by this sudden artillery bombardment, they were well-trained after all, and after a short panic, they found the Soviet artillery positions hidden in the forest, so the tanks and armored vehicles that had not been hit by the artillery fire turned around and rushed towards the forest.

Seeing the German army with such a quick response, Rokossovsky, who was watching the battle, almost threw away the telescope in his hand, his temples were beating wildly suddenly, as if something was about to burst out inside, because of nervousness, he was already a little incoherent: "Quick, quick, colonel, quickly order the artillery to continue firing!" Also, General Novikov, ordered the tanks to open fire as well and kill all the German tanks! Quick, shoot now! ”

Because there was no telephone to inform the tank troops for the time being, after receiving the order, Novikov immediately ran out of the observation post and personally went to give the order to fire the tank units ambushed in the forest.