ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Colonel-General Petrov

To Vice-Admiral Vladimirsky

The troops of the North Caucasus Front, in cooperation with the ships and units of the Black Sea Fleet, as a result of a bold operation combining a land assault and a landing from the sea, after five days of fierce fighting during which the 73rd German Infantry Division, the 4th and 101st German Mountain Rifle Divisions, the 4th Romanian Mountain Rifle Division, and the port naval infantry detachments of the Germans were routed, — today, September 16, took by storm the important Black Sea port and city of Novorossiisk.

In the fighting for Novorossiisk, the troops of Lieutenant-General Leselidze, the sailors of Rear-Admiral Kholostyakov, the airmen of Lieutenant-General of Aviation Vershinin and Lieutenant-General of Aviation Yermachenkov distinguished themselves.

The following particularly distinguished themselves:

the 318th Rifle Division of Colonel Vrutsky, the 55th Guards Irkutsk Order of Lenin and thrice Red Banner Rifle Division named after the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR of Major-General Arshintsev, the 83rd Red Banner Independent Marine Rifle Brigade of Lieutenant-Colonel Kozlov, the 5th Guards Tank Brigade of Colonel Shurenkov, the 290th Independent Rifle Regiment of the NKVD Troops of Lieutenant-Colonel Piskarev, the 393rd Independent Marine Battalion of Lieutenant-Captain Botylev, the 11th Assault Aviation Division of the Air Forces of the Black Sea Fleet of Lieutenant-Colonel Gubry, the 88th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of Major Maksimenko, the 889th Night Light-Bomber Aviation Regiment of Major Bocharov, the 2nd Brigade of Torpedo Boats of Captain 2nd Rank Protsenko, the 1st Red Banner Division of Patrol Boats of Lieutenant-Captain Glukhov, the 4th Division of Patrol Boats of Lieutenant-Captain Sipyagin, the 81st Howitzer Artillery Regiment of Lieutenant-Colonel Akhtyrchenko, the 69th Guards Artillery Regiment of Lieutenant-Colonel Petrunya, the 1169th Cannon Artillery Regiment of Colonel Tarasov, the 108th Guards Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment of Major Bagnich, the 195th Mountain Pack Mortar Regiment of Lieutenant-Colonel Ivanyan, the 1st Guards Independent Artillery Battalion of Major Matushenko, the 251st Independent Mobile Artillery Battalion of Captain Soluyanov, the 8th Guards Mortar Regiment of Lieutenant-Colonel Makaryan.

In honour of the victory achieved, the designations "Novorossiisk" shall be awarded to the 318th Rifle Division, the 83rd Red Banner Independent Marine Rifle Brigade, the 5th Guards Tank Brigade, the 290th Independent Rifle Regiment of the NKVD Troops, the 393rd Independent Marine Battalion, the 11th Assault Aviation Division, the 88th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, the 889th Night Light-Bomber Aviation Regiment, the 2nd Brigade of Torpedo Boats, the 1st Red Banner Division of Patrol Boats, the 4th Division of Patrol Boats, the 81st Howitzer Artillery Regiment, the 69th Guards Artillery Regiment, the 1169th Cannon Artillery Regiment, the 108th Guards Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment, the 195th Mountain Pack Mortar Regiment, the 1st Guards Independent Artillery Battalion, the 251st Independent Mobile Artillery Battalion, and the 8th Guards Mortar Regiment, which distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of the city of Novorossiisk, and these formations and units shall henceforth be named:

318th Novorossiisk Rifle Division,

83rd Red Banner Novorossiisk Independent Marine Rifle Brigade,

5th Guards Novorossiisk Tank Brigade,

290th Novorossiisk Independent Rifle Regiment of the NKVD Troops,

393rd Novorossiisk Independent Marine Battalion,

11th Novorossiisk Assault Aviation Division,

88th Guards Novorossiisk Fighter Aviation Regiment,

889th Novorossiisk Night Light-Bomber Aviation Regiment,

2nd Novorossiisk Brigade of Torpedo Boats,

1st Red Banner Novorossiisk Division of Patrol Boats,

4th Novorossiisk Division of Patrol Boats,

81st Novorossiisk Howitzer Artillery Regiment,

69th Guards Novorossiisk Artillery Regiment,

1169th Novorossiisk Cannon Artillery Regiment,

108th Guards Novorossiisk Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment,

195th Novorossiisk Mountain Pack Mortar Regiment,

1st Guards Novorossiisk Independent Artillery Battalion,

251st Novorossiisk Independent Mobile Artillery Battalion,

8th Guards Novorossiisk Mortar Regiment.

The 55th Guards Irkutsk Order of Lenin and thrice Red Banner Rifle Division named after the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR, which has on numerous occasions already distinguished itself in battles against the enemies of our Motherland, shall be proposed for the award of the Order of Suvorov, 2nd Degree.

Today, September 16, at 20:00, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, salutes our valiant troops who have liberated the city of Novorossiisk with twelve artillery salvoes from one hundred and twenty-four guns.

At the same time the ships of the Black Sea Fleet shall fire a salute of twelve salvoes to the troops and ships that have liberated from the German-fascist yoke the second base of the Black Sea Navy — Novorossiisk.

For the excellent combat operations, I declare my gratitude to all the troops under your command who participated in the fighting for the liberation of the city of Novorossiisk.

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

Death to the German invaders!

Supreme Commander-in-Chief

Marshal of the Soviet Union I. STALIN

September 16, 1943 [No. 13]