When Batov ordered the signal corps to call the 304th Division Command, the Signal Corps regretfully told him that he had lost contact with the 304th Division Command.

When Batov heard what the signal soldier said, he immediately realized that something was wrong, and hurriedly dialed the brigade headquarters of the 3rd tank brigade. As soon as the phone rang, he heard a dense explosion coming from the earpiece, and he hurriedly asked: "Comrade brigade commander, what happened to you there, and why is there an explosion?" ”

"Can't you hear me?" The brigade commander said with some anger: "The enemy is shelling the defense area of our brigade, causing us a lot of casualties. According to the observation post, a large number of German troops were also massing in the distance. Comrade commander, if I had not miscalculated, the enemy would have launched a large-scale attack on us as soon as the shelling stopped. ”

As soon as Batov put down the phone, he immediately dialed the front headquarters again, and he said to Malinin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, something has gone wrong, the Germans seem to have launched an attack from my right flank, and I would like to ask you to send an air force to our right flank to reconnoiter and get a good idea of the enemy's strength." ”

"What, the Germans were found on your right flank?" Malinen was also taken aback when he heard the news, and he asked nervously, "Didn't you send scouts to reconnoiter the surrounding environment when you advanced towards Kalinkovich?" ”

"No, Comrade Chief of Staff." Batov said with some embarrassment: "You also know that we have been advancing at a relatively fast pace recently, and often the scouts we have sent have not yet completed the reconnaissance mission, and our troops have already liberated those areas to be reconnoitred. Maybe that's why we're a little underestimated. ”

"I see, General Batov." Malinin said into the microphone: "I will immediately ask the Air Force to dispatch reconnaissance planes to find out the truth of the Germans, but the first thing you need to do now is to transfer troops to strengthen your right flank, understand?" ”

"Understood, Comrade Chief of Staff, I will now begin to move forces towards the right flank." After Batov put down the phone, he said to Glebov: "Immediately order the troops that are on the offensive to stop the offensive and move to the defense on the spot." ”

Glebov also understood at this moment: "That's right, Comrade Commander, it's time to stop the offensive, if we don't take countermeasures in time, maybe the entire army group will fall into the encirclement of the German army." ”

After saying this, Glebov picked up the phone, called the divisions that were still attacking, and ordered them to immediately switch from the offensive to the defensive.

And on the right flank of the 65th Army, the 304th Infantry Division, which was holding on here, had only rudimentary fortifications composed of sandbags and trenches, not only not reinforced with logs, but not even rattan. At the beginning, someone proposed to the division commander that if such a rudimentary fortification could not stop the German attack at all, the enemy only needed a burst of artillery fire to flatten the place.

But the division commander said disapprerovitously: "Don't worry, don't see our division serving as a guard here, but I promise you that until we liberate the city of Kalinkovich, no German troops will appear in front of us." ”

It was precisely because the division commanders were so light on the enemy that the defense on the right flank was also extremely weak. It took less than half an hour for the Germans to storm the division headquarters of the 304th Division. Except for one staff officer who escaped by chance, all the personnel in the command died heroically.

The 304th Division, which had lost its unified command, suddenly became a mass of scattered sand fighting on its own, unable to resist the German troops pouring in like a tide. In less than two hours, the defensive positions of the 304th Division were lost. At this time, two divisions and a tank brigade, which were temporarily transferred from the left flank by Batov for reinforcements, had just set off.

After receiving the report from the Air Force, Malinin also discovered the seriousness of the problem. He hurriedly asked Zakharkin for instructions: "Comrade commander, the current situation of the 65th Army is very critical, and I propose to immediately send the front reserves to reinforce them in order to smash the possibility of the Germans encircling them." ”

After hearing this, Zakharkin shook his head and said: "I can't send out the front reserves without the order of the Supreme Command. ”

Seeing Zakharkin's unwillingness to take responsibility, Malinin suddenly felt dissatisfied with him in his heart. After much thought, he took the phone, and in his capacity as chief of staff of the front, he gave an order to the commanders of the reserves, telling them that the situation of the 65th Army was now critical, and ordering them to set off within an hour and rush to Kalinkovich for reinforcements.

After informing the reserves of the front, Malinin thought about it, felt that it was far from enough, and called Belov again. Don't see that Belov and Batov's combat areas are not far apart, but he has no idea that Batov's right flank is being attacked by the Germans. Hearing Malinin mention it, he couldn't help but be surprised: "What, the Germans launched an attack on Batov's right flank, how many troops?" ”

"According to the reconnaissance of the Air Force," Malinin told Belov the truth in order to prepare him mentally: "There are at least seven German divisions, two of which are panzer, and they are attacking Batov's right flank. According to reliable information, the 304th Infantry Division, defending the right flank, had been routed, and it was likely that the Germans would make a detour back to the rear of Batov's attacking forces and encircle the entire 65th Army. ”

"I see, Comrade Chief of Staff." When Belov heard this, he immediately made a statement to Malinin and said: "I immediately sent two infantry divisions, two artillery regiments and a tank brigade to reinforce Batov. My troops will be out in an hour. ”

Seeing Malinin put down the phone, Zakharkin, who felt that he was left out in the cold, said unhappily: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I remind you to pay attention to your identity, you are only the Chief of Staff, and I am the acting commander of the Belarusian Front. ”

"Comrade Acting Commander," Malinin said word by word, looking at Zakharkin, "as Chief of Staff of the Front, I will never watch my troops surrounded or annihilated by the Germans." Do you understand? ”

"Understood, understood." Seeing that Malinin's eyes seemed to be bursting with fire, Zakharkin said in a bit of a panic: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you are right, we cannot watch our troops being surrounded or wiped out, you are doing it very correctly. ”

Malinin ignored the other party, but picked up the microphone again, dialed Batov's headquarters, and said to him: "General Batov, I have already sent the front reserves, and General Belov has also sent reinforcements to you, I hope you can hold out until the reinforcements arrive." Do you understand? ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, please rest assured." With a resolute expression, Batov said: "We will definitely not fall into the encirclement of the German army. ”