The Germans soon moved into the 9th Panzer Division of the Mobile Reserve, while bringing in a large number of reinforcements from the calmer parts of the north. The balance of power soon became favorable to the Germans. From 27 to 28 November, the German 5th Panzer Division and the 78th Infantry Division squeezed the Soviet breakthrough from the south, the main force of the 9th Panzer Division, a tank battalion of the 1st Panzer Division, a regiment of the 129th Division, and a unit of the 102nd Division from the north. Also involved was the 667th Battery Artillery Battalion (reinforced with some 88 mm anti-aircraft guns). The Soviet 6th Tank Corps and the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps, which were deep into the enemy position, were successively beaten and almost cut off from the rear road. Behind the cut-off troops, the Soviets made some breakthroughs, but they were unable to expand them.
In the Bere area on the west side, the Soviet 41st Army, spearheaded by the 1st Mechanized Army, severely damaged one regiment of the German 246th Division and two regiments of the 2nd AirField Division, while opening a breakthrough. On the third day of the battle, this breakthrough had been extended to a depth of 20 kilometers. But german reserves and reinforcements also flocked to them.
By 26–27 November, the main force of the 1st Panzer Division had launched a counterattack. At the same time, the newly transferred 19th and 20th Panzer Divisions and SS Cavalry Divisions were also massing south of the breakthrough. On 30 November, the 12th Panzer Division also rushed to the battlefield and entered the battle. North of the salient, several German mobile units also fought back with infantry: the Greater Germanic Division attacked the Soviet 22nd Army; the 14th Panzer Infantry Division was used to contain the Soviet 39th Army.
In this way, after the first few days of fierce fighting, the offensive momentum of the Soviet army began to be contained, and gradually showed signs of defeat. The Germans also suffered considerable losses. Between 21 and 30 November, the German 9th Army suffered 5,508 combat losses (including 1,040 killed, 118 missing, and other wounded). But Modell was clearly closer to victory, and the situation was getting more favorable to him.