Nikolay Oplesnin served as an intelligence officer at the headquarters of the 468th Rifle Regiment of the 111th Division of the 52nd Army, then as Assistant Chief of Operations at the division headquarters. He participated in the battles on the North-Western, Leningrad and Volkhov Fronts. The difficult combat situation forced Lieutenant Oplesnina to show initiative and creativity in obtaining data about the enemy and getting out of the enemy's rear to their troops. The difficulty of conducting reconnaissance was due to the fact that the enemy was using mobile mechanized troops, and our reconnaissance units were moving on their feet.