The attack began on the second day at 0200 hours, as the guards of the Kazarlia First Front Army's third tank army, the vanguard of the 24th Guards Tank Brigade.
"Brigade commander!" The brigade chief of staff knocked fiercely on the hatch of the brigade commander's vehicle, "Brigade commander!"
The hatch opened, and the brigade commander, yawning, poked his head out, "What's the matter, Mikhail?"
"Engine noise!"
The brigade commander shivered, instantly wide awake. He raised his head and indeed heard the sound of engines in the night sky.
After a brief listen, he cursed, "Prosen's half-track vehicles—it must be the enemy's reconnaissance unit. Why haven't our units opened fire?"
The brigade chief of staff replied, "They might not have figured out the situation either."
"Damn it, our half-tracks are all at the brigade headquarters! Tell them to open fire!" The brigade commander suddenly stopped.