Despite an untimely thaw making the ground near impassable to vehicles on November 16th the 5th Tank Corps and 3rd Guards Cavalry Corps, backed by rifle divisions of 4th Shock Army, began an attack on November 16 that tore through the defenses of 3rd Panzer Army's 113rd Division and by November 18 reached within 5km of the main road from Gorodok to Nevel.