The city of Boguchar is located about seventy-five kilometres southeast of Rosoch, and the quiet Don River flows through the north and east of the city.

By this time the city of Boguchar had become a large barracks, and the southbound military columns crossed the Don River and stopped at the railway station, unloading tons of military supplies and hundreds of thousands of soldiers.

On the road, tanks, armoured vehicles and trucks drove over the bridge over the river into the city of Boguchar, and then turned around and headed west.

Marshal Timoshenko and his good brother Nikita Khrushchev fled from Rosohshi and fled eastward, first to the small town of Nova Kalitva at the confluence of the Don and Kalitva rivers.

For safety, the two fled farther east to Boguchar, where they rebuilt their headquarters.

On the eastern outskirts of Boguchar, Marshal Timoshenko was in the new headquarters, stroking his shiny bald head and staring at the map with a calm face.

Khrushchev, who was standing next to him, looked no less ugly.

"Comrade Rokossovsky hasn't arrived yet?" Khrushchev asked.

"It's almost there, he should have already left the train station." A staff officer said.

As soon as the staff officer's words fell, a tall man with a big face walked into the command room.

The person who came was none other than the commander of the Voronezh Front, Lieutenant General Rokossovsky, who had just arrived.

After the greetings, Marshal Timoshenko asked bluntly: "Comrade Rokossovsky, how many troops are there in your troops?" How many have already arrived here? ”

"My front army has three army groups, this time the Fifth Tank Army is going south, and there is a multi-arm composite army behind it. The air force of the Germans was too rampant, and the troops marched slowly. ”

Lieutenant General Rokossovsky walked to the map, pointed to the map and said: "Before the departure of the Fifth Tank Army, it was strengthened by the Supreme Command, and now has the 2nd, 7th and 11th Tank Corps, as well as the 19th Separate Tank Brigade and the 340th Infantry Division directly under the command of the Army.

At present, the 2nd Tank Corps, the 19th Independent Tank Brigade and the 340th Infantry Division are moving south along the road, heading due north to the Kalitwa River. The 11th Tank Army is arriving in Boguchar by train. The 7th Tank Army had just departed from the reserves of the Supreme Command and arrived here a day or two late. ”

Timoshenko said: "Comrade Rokossovsky, the current situation is extremely unfavorable for us. Previously, our plan was to have the troops retreat to the east and northeast and then reorganize the defensive line. But a German force suddenly appeared on the banks of the Kalitva River and occupied Rosochi and Olikhovatka to the west. If we don't get rid of this force as quickly as possible, not only will your troops have to take a long detour to reach the battlefield, but our troops that are retreating northeast will also be stopped by them. According to our original plan, after the troops were withdrawn to the north-east, they were to be redeployed along the Kalitwa River. Two of the most important towns on the Kalitva River were occupied by the Germans, and our line of defense could not be built at all. ”

Lieutenant General Rokossovsky gasped, stared at the map for a while and asked: "How many enemies are there on the Kalitva River?" ”

"It was supposed to be an armored division, they were supposed to cross the Donets River from the Voroshilovgrad region, and after a day and a night of rapid marching they took us by surprise. I dare to conclude that they are now an aggressive force, or an isolated force, and we must move quickly and kill them, otherwise it will be too late for the Germans to arrive and this force to be strengthened. ”

"I see, that's my plan." Lieutenant General Rokossovsky said: "I decided to have the troops from the north, with the 340th Infantry Division and the 19th Separate Tank Brigade, as well as part of the 2nd Tank Army, attack the enemy's troops on the front line of the Kalitva River from the north. At the same time, let the main forces of the 2nd Tank Army, farther to the west, bypass the enemy's lines and enter the south bank of the Kalitva River.

Our 11th Tank Corps launched an attack from east to west along the south bank of the Kalitva River from Boguchar to join forces with the 2nd Tank Army's southbound forces and encircle this German force. And then destroy them. ”

Marshal Timoshenko said: "I agree with your plan, when will the troops be able to start attacking?" ”

"What do you think of the day after tomorrow?" Lieutenant General Rokossovsky asked.

"It's too late the day after tomorrow, tonight, use the night as a cover to get the troops to the battlefield, and launch an attack early tomorrow morning, we don't have much time to prepare." Marshal Timoshenko said.

"It's too hasty tomorrow morning, at least let the troops get familiar with the terrain after dawn, complete the assembly and then launch an attack."

"By noon tomorrow at the latest, it can't be any later, we have to hurry." Marshal Timoshenko said.

"Okay, I'll go and move the troops right away, give them orders, let them know what they're going to do."

After a busy day, at dinner, Marshal Timoshenko invited Lieutenant General Rokossovsky to dinner, and after dinner, the two men again discussed the details of tomorrow's battle.

I don't know how long later, Khrushchev suddenly walked into the command room and said to Marshal Timoshenko with a calm face: "Comrade Marshal, Comrade Rokossovsky, I finally know who our opponent is about to fight. ”

"Who is our opponent?" Marshal Timoshenko asked.

Rokossovsky did not speak, but the look in his eyes at Khrushchev showed that he was also interested in the answer.

Khrushchev said: "It is a man we know very well, his name is Heinz von Rosen, and the unit opposite us is the Reichsmarshal Panzer Division, the unit named after the rank of commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe, which was also created by Heinz von Rosen himself." ”

Marshal Timoshenko gritted his teeth and said: "It turned out to be the scoundrel of Heinz von Rosen, and all this has been explained. If it was his troops, it would be understandable that they would dare to go deep alone so arrogantly. ”

"How do you know?" Lieutenant General Rokossovsky asked.

"The enemy's 'Deutsche Welle' radio station told me, and at the same time it was broadcast, and at the same time, Comrade Bokin······ Already sacrificed, the scoundrel is trumpeting his exploits through the radio. ”

Thinking that last night, he had discussed the battle plan with the chief of staff, Lieutenant General Bogin, and now that less than a day had passed, he heard the bad news of his sacrifice, and Marshal Timoshenko felt a heavy heart.

None of the three spoke, and a name cast a shadow over the hearts of the three people.

The appearance of a captain staff officer breaks the oppressive atmosphere in the room.

"Report, the general secretary's call."

Timoshenko hurried to the phone, and heard Stalin's voice coming from the phone.

"Comrade Timoshenko, I am glad to learn that you managed to escape the surprise attack of the Germans. Did Comrade Rokossovsky get to you? ”

"It's here, General Secretary."

"Call him and Comrade Khrushchev, and you will listen to my call together."

Timoshenko hurriedly called Khrushchev and Lieutenant General Rokossovsky and asked the two of them to stand beside him.

"Do you know who attacked you this morning?" Stalin asked over the phone.

"I know, it's the villain of Heinz von Rosen." Timoshenko said.

"Do you know who killed Comrade Bokin?" Stalin asked.

"I know, it's the villain of Heinz von Rosen." Timoshenko said.

"Do you know who your opponent is about to destroy?" Stalin continued to ask.

"I know, it's the villain of Heinz von Rosen."

"You know, Comrade Timoshenko, are you sure you can kill that villain?"

"I ······ I promise to do my best to win the battle. ”

"Well, good, remember to take out that villain of Heinz von Rosen first, and then kill that traitor of Vlasov. Vlasov, that son of a bitch, went so far as to say that after the end of the war, a shit Cossack republic would be established in the lower Don River basin, so that the Cossacks would get their own pastures. I can't bear him anymore, and every day he lives is a serious pollution to the air. Damn, I should have said this to him, not to me. ”

。 m.