ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Army General Sokolovsky

The troops of the Western Front recently broke through the strongly fortified defensive line of the enemy and, developing their offensive in the Smolensk direction, yesterday, August 30, captured the operationally important, large road junction and most important strongpoint of the enemy defences in the Smolensk direction — the city of Yelnya.

In the fighting at the city of Yelnya, the Guards tankmen of Major-General Burdeiny, the troops of Lieutenant-General Gordov, Major-General Krylov, Lieutenant-General Trubnikov, the airmen of Marshal of Aviation Golovanov and Lieutenant-General of Aviation Gromov distinguished themselves.

In honour of the victory won by our troops at the city of Yelnya, the 29th Guards Red Banner Rifle Division, the 76th Rifle Division, the 25th Guards Tank Brigade, the 26th Guards Tank Brigade, the 23rd Guards Independent Tank Brigade, and the 119th Independent Tank Regiment, which distinguished themselves in the fighting at the city of Yelnya, shall be awarded the designation "Yelnya" and shall henceforth be named:

29th Guards Red Banner Yelnya Rifle Division,

76th Yelnya Rifle Division,

25th Guards Yelnya Tank Brigade,

26th Guards Yelnya Tank Brigade,

23rd Guards Yelnya Independent Tank Brigade,

119th Yelnya Independent Tank Regiment.

On behalf of the Motherland, our capital, Moscow, today, August 31, at 19:00, will salute our valiant troops who won the victory at the city of Yelnya with twelve artillery salvoes from one hundred and twenty-four guns.

For the excellent combat operations and skilful manoeuvring, I declare my gratitude to all the troops under your command who participated in the operations in the Smolensk direction. I note with particular commendation the skilful actions of:

the 29th Guards Red Banner Yelnya Rifle Division of Major-General Stuchenko,

the 76th Yelnya Rifle Division of Colonel Babayan,

the 25th Guards Yelnya Tank Brigade of Colonel Shevchenko,

the 26th Guards Yelnya Tank Brigade of Colonel Nesterov,

the 23rd Guards Yelnya Independent Tank Brigade of Colonel Kalinin,

the 119th Yelnya Independent Tank Regiment of Lieutenant-Colonel Losik,

the 63rd Rifle Division of Colonel Laskin.

Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and honour of our Motherland!

Death to the German invaders!

Supreme Commander-in-Chief

Marshal of the Soviet Union I. STALIN

August 31, 1943 [No. 6]