ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Army General Rokossovsky

The troops of the Central Front, continuing their offensive, today, September 15, after two days of fierce fighting, captured the large railway junction and city of Nezhin — the most important strongpoint of the German defences on the roads to Kiev.

In the fighting for Nezhin, the troops of Lieutenant-General Chernyakhovsky, Major-General Kozlov P.M., the Guards tankmen of Lieutenant-General of Tank Forces Korchagin, and the airmen of Lieutenant-General of Aviation Rudenko distinguished themselves.

The following particularly distinguished themselves:

the 280th Konotop Rifle Division of Major-General Golosov, the 132nd Bakhmach Rifle Division of Major-General Shkrylev, the 24th Guards Mechanized Brigade of Colonel Maksimov, the 25th Guards Mechanized Brigade of Colonel Artamonov, the 26th Guards Sevsk Mechanized Brigade of Major-General Barinov, the 57th Guards Tank Brigade of Lieutenant-Colonel Silov, the 299th Assault Aviation Division of Colonel Krupsky, the 286th Fighter Aviation Division of Colonel Ivanov.

In honour of the victory achieved, the 7th Guards Mechanized Corps, the 24th Guards Mechanized Brigade, the 25th Guards Mechanized Brigade, the 57th Guards Tank Brigade, the 299th Assault Aviation Division, and the 286th Fighter Aviation Division, which distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of the city of Nezhin, shall be awarded the designation "Nezhin" and these formations shall henceforth be named:

7th Guards Nezhin Mechanized Corps,

24th Guards Nezhin Mechanized Brigade,

25th Guards Nezhin Mechanized Brigade,

57th Guards Nezhin Tank Brigade,

299th Nezhin Assault Aviation Division,

286th Nezhin Fighter Aviation Division.

The 280th Konotop Rifle Division, the 132nd Bakhmach Rifle Division, and the 26th Guards Sevsk Mechanized Brigade, which have distinguished themselves for the second time in fighting against the German invaders, shall be proposed for the award of the Order of the Red Banner.

Today, September 15, at 20:00, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, salutes our valiant troops who have liberated the city of Nezhin with twelve artillery salvoes from one hundred and twenty-four guns.

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 Nezhin.

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 15, 1943 [No. 12]