ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Marshal of the Soviet Union Rokossovsky

The troops of the 1st Byelorussian Front forced the River Shara on a sector of 60 kilometres in length and captured the city of Slonim — a large communications hub and powerful strongpoint of the German defence on the River Shara.

Simultaneously, in the Pinsk direction, the troops of the front, supported by the Dnieper River Military Flotilla, captured the city of Luninets — an important railway junction of Polessye.

In the fighting during the forcing of the River Shara and for the capture of the cities of Slonim and Luninets, the following troops distinguished themselves: the forces of Colonel General Batov, Lieutenant General Luchinsky, Lieutenant General Romanenko, Lieutenant General Belov, Major General Andreyev, Major General Gartsev, Major General Ivanov, Major General Alekseyev, Major General Perkorovich, Major General Shvarev, Major General Yanovsky, Major General Bulatov, Major General Sankovsky, Major General Grebennik, Major General Frolonkov, Major General Danilov, Major General Kuznetsov, Major General Korchikov, Colonel Opyakin, Lieutenant Colonel Lukin, Colonel Petrovsky, Colonel Morozov, Colonel Dzhandzghava, Colonel Petunin, Colonel Basteyev, Lieutenant Colonel Smekalin, Lieutenant Colonel Chernousenko, Lieutenant Colonel Taranenko, Lieutenant Colonel Vinokurov, Colonel Shmyglyev; the cavalry formations of the Kuban Cossacks of Lieutenant General Pliev, Major General Tutarinov, Major General Golovskoy; the tankmen of Major General of Tank Forces Bakharov, Lieutenant General of Tank Forces Krivoshein, Lieutenant Colonel Boiko, Colonel Kuznetsov, Lieutenant Colonel Baranyuk, Lieutenant Colonel Trushkin, Colonel Khlyupin, Colonel Gavrilov, Colonel Kulikov, Lieutenant Colonel Lozhkin, Lieutenant Colonel Vasilyev, Lieutenant Colonel Ryzhanov; the artillerymen of Colonel Voskresensky, Colonel Gordovenko, [Colonel] Sventsitsky, Lieutenant Colonel Sergeyev, Lieutenant Colonel Tarasov; the airmen of Major General of Aviation Dzusov, Colonel Vinogradov; the units of the Dnieper River Military Flotilla of Captain 1st Rank Grigoryev, Captain 2nd Rank Mitin; the sappers of Colonel Petrov, Major Lisitsky, Major Belyakov, Lieutenant Colonel Nikolayev, Engineer Captain Franchuk; and the signallers of Major General of Signal Forces Litvinenko, Colonel Borisov, Lieutenant Colonel Plotkin.

In commemoration of the victory achieved, the formations and units that have most distinguished themselves in the fighting during the forcing of the River Shara and for the capture of the cities of Slonim and Luninets are to be nominated for the designations "Slonim" and "Luninets" and for decoration with orders.

Today, July 10, at 23:00 hours, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, salutes the valiant troops of the 1st Byelorussian Front who have forced the River Shara and captured the cities of Slonim and Luninets — 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 forcing of the River Shara and for the liberation of the cities of Slonim and Luninets.

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 10, 1944 [No. 134]