An icy wind swept along the frozen bank of the Donets River as Nikolai Vatutin stepped from his staff car, boots crunching over snow-hardened ground. Without ceremony, he advanced toward the waiting ranks, breath rising in the bitter November dusk, his steady gaze drawing the men to attention before the coming offensive.
“Comrades!
The decisive hour approaches. Within the week, we strike. The enemy stands before us on this riverbank, but he is weakened, bled white by the steadfast blows of the Red Army. Though the 1st Guards and the Cossack Life Guards are delayed in the Dubrovska pocket, their struggle has not been in vain, it has tempered our elite formations and proven the crushing strength of our newly deployed artillery Divisions. The guns of the Motherland are ready.
From the northern sector comes glorious news. Comrade General Gerimenko and his troops have shattered an entire Fascist Panzer division, burning its tanks to twisted iron and scattering its hordes. Let this be your answer to doubt, the German war machine can be broken, and it is being broken.
Stand firm, comrades. Trust in your weapons, in your commanders, and in one another. We fight not only for this riverbank, but for our Motherland, for our families, for victory.
Forward — to triumph!"
Shouted Vatutin. As he turn around to walk back to his command car...
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... A man suddenly appears out of nowere
"Comrade-General ! Comrade-General ! I have urgent news !" Vatutin turns around, hands still on his binoculars as he always had no matter where he was..
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"What is it ?" He said.
"Comrade-General" puffed the soldier " The Germans ! They.." As he took his breath. " They retreated from the entire frontline reports Western and Central Front !
"What do you mean" Said Vatutin, "The entire German army over there is gone ?!".
" Yes" Said the soldier, " The reports indicates only a few divisions remains."
As the soldier were saying this, another soldier approached the General.
'Comrade-General, the Germans on our entire frontline has retreated back about 30 kilometers ! "
"This can't be !" Said Vatutin, " I can see the Germans right there across the bank !"
"Decoys", They left a few divisions around but most have retreated".
"Thank you Comrades, go back to your posts".
The Germans having noticed the movements of troops in the area, has made sure to retreat. No doubt they were sending all they had in front of Western Front right here in the South to counter the threat.. Vatutin took a moment to think while his officers relayed the news to Kalinin Front
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"Comrade, get everyone on the line, we're sending the assault in one hour. Get news to Timoshenko and tell him to delay the enemy as much as he can! "