ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Army General Yeremenko

The troops of the 2nd Baltic Front, having gone over to the offensive from the area north-west and west of Novosokolniki, broke through the German defences and in two days of offensive fighting advanced up to 35 kilometres, widening the breach to 150 kilometres along the front.

In the course of the offensive, the troops of the front captured the city and large railway junction of Idritsa — an important strongpoint of the German defence — and seized more than 1,000 other populated localities, among them: Kudever, Dukhnovo, Yukhovichi, Rossono, Klyastitsy.

In the fighting during the breakthrough of the German defences, the following troops distinguished themselves: the forces of Lieutenant General Kazakov, Lieutenant General Yushkevich, Lieutenant General Korotkov, Lieutenant General Novoselsky, Major General Khoruzhenko, Major General Vakhrameyev, Major General Kleshnin, Major General Sedulin, Colonel Perevertkin; the artillerymen of Lieutenant General of Artillery Nichkov, Lieutenant General of Artillery Nesterenko, Major General of Artillery Kupriyanov, Major General of Artillery Nesteruk, Major General of Artillery Shalunov, Major General of Artillery Kharlamov; the tankmen of Lieutenant General of Tank Forces Chernyavsky, Colonel Lebedyev, Colonel Kochergin, Colonel Nikolayev, Colonel Yudin, Colonel Paramonov, Colonel Bregvadze, Lieutenant Colonel Sivkov; the airmen of Lieutenant General of Aviation Naumenko, Major General of Aviation Danilov, Major General of Aviation Rubanov, Colonel Litvinov, Colonel Korpusov, Colonel Trushkin, Colonel Voyevodin; the sappers of Major General of Engineer Forces Pilipets, Colonel Yegorov, Colonel Leshchev, Colonel Furashev, Lieutenant Colonel Belozertsev; and the signallers of Major General of Signal Forces Panin, Major General of Signal Forces Denisov, Colonel Spivak, Colonel Akimov.

In commemoration of the success achieved, the formations and units that have most distinguished themselves in the fighting during the breakthrough of the German defences and for the capture of the city of Idritsa are to be nominated for the designation "Idritsa" and for decoration with orders.

Today, July 12, at 23:00 hours, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, salutes the valiant troops of the 2nd Baltic Front who have broken through the German defences and captured the city of Idritsa — with twenty artillery salvoes from two hundred and twenty-four guns.

For excellent combat operations I declare gratitude to the troops under your command who participated in the fighting during the breakthrough of the enemy defences and for the liberation of the city of Idritsa.

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

Death to the German invaders!

Supreme Commander-in-Chief

Marshal of the Soviet Union I. STALIN

July 12, 1944 [No. 135]