Order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
20 July 1944
[No. 142]

ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Marshal of the Soviet Union Rokossovsky

The troops of the 1st Byelorussian Front, having gone over to the offensive from the area of Kovel, broke through the strongly fortified German defences and in three days of offensive fighting advanced forward up to 50 kilometres, widening the breakthrough to 150 kilometres along the front.

In the course of the offensive, the troops of the front occupied more than 400 populated places, including the large populated places of Ratno, Maloryta, Lyuboml, Opalin, and reached the River Western Bug.

In the fighting during the breakthrough of the enemy's defences, distinction was earned by the troops of Colonel-General Chuikov, Lieutenant-General Gusev, Lieutenant-General Kolpakchi, Lieutenant-General Popov, Lieutenant-General Glazunov, Lieutenant-General Fokanov, Major-General Ryzhov, Major-General Kuzmin, Major-General Poznyak, Major-General Anashkin, Major-General Volkov, Major-General Barinov; artillerymen of Colonel-General of Artillery Kazakov, Lieutenant-General of Artillery Pozharsky, Major-General of Artillery Godin, Major-General of Artillery Gorbunov, Major-General of Artillery Modzelevsky, Major-General of Artillery Dmitriev, Major-General of Artillery Ignatov, Major-General of Artillery Kurkovsky, Major-General of Artillery Snegurov, Major-General of Artillery Bityutsky, Colonel Kobrin, Colonel Kagan, Colonel Zabello, Colonel Efimov, Colonel Znachenko, Colonel Gutin, Colonel Ushakov, Major-General of Artillery Lyarsky, Colonel Kopelev; tankmen of Lieutenant-General of Tank Forces Orel, Major-General of Tank Forces Vaynrub, Major-General of Tank Forces Yushchuk, Colonel Tikhonchuk, Colonel Eremeev, Colonel Timchenko, Colonel Agafonov; airmen of Colonel-General of Aviation Rudenko, Lieutenant-General of Aviation Polynin, Major-General of Aviation Tokarev, Major-General of Aviation Sidnev, Major-General of Aviation Krupsky, Colonel Borisenko, Colonel Sukhoryabov, Colonel Kalinin, Lieutenant-Colonel Smirnov, Lieutenant-Colonel Myasoyedov, Major Komarov; sappers of Lieutenant-General of Engineer Forces Proshlyakov, Major-General of Engineer Forces Vitvinin, Major-General of Engineer Forces Ioffe, Major-General of Technical Forces Shapiro, Colonel Svadkovsky, Colonel Kiselev, Colonel Klementyev, Lieutenant-Colonel Kuznetsov, Colonel Dobychin; signallers of Lieutenant-General of Signal Forces Maksimenko, Colonel Cherkasov, Colonel Makarov, Colonel Chekhov, Lieutenant-Colonel Sakharov, Lieutenant-Colonel Kalentyev.

In commemoration of the victory won, the formations and units that have most distinguished themselves in the fighting during the breakthrough of the German defences are to be submitted for decoration with orders.

Today, 20 July, at 22 hours, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland salutes the valiant troops of the 1st Byelorussian Front, who have broken through the German defences west of Kovel, with twenty artillery salvoes from two hundred and twenty-four guns.

For distinguished combat operations I declare my gratitude to the troops under your command who took part in the fighting during the breakthrough of the enemy's defences.

Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the battles for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!

Death to the German invaders!

Supreme Commander-in-Chief

Marshal of the Soviet Union I. STALIN

20 July 1944 [No. 142]