ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Army General Rokossovsky

The troops of the Central Front, continuing their swift offensive, forced the River Seim and on September 6 liberated the city of Konotop from the German invaders, and today, September 9, after fierce two-day fighting, our troops took by storm the city of Bakhmach — the most important railway junction, centre of enemy communications, and decisive strongpoint of the German defences in the Kiev direction.

In the fighting for the cities of Konotop and Bakhmach, the troops of Lieutenant-General Chernyakhovsky, Lieutenant-General Bondarev, Major-General Kozlov P.M., the airmen of Lieutenant-General of Aviation Rudenko distinguished themselves, and especially the 132nd Rifle Division of Major-General Shkrylev, the 143rd Rifle Division of Colonel Lukin, the 280th Rifle Division of Major-General Golosov, the 70th Guards Glukhov Rifle Division of Major-General Gusev, the 75th Guards Rifle Division of Major-General Gorishny, the 221st Bomber Aviation Division of Colonel Buzylev, the 3rd Guards Light Artillery Brigade of Lieutenant-Colonel Zhagala, the 56th Guards Mortar Regiment of Lieutenant-Colonel Shapovalov, the 65th Guards Mortar Regiment of Major Pavlov.

In honour of the victory achieved, the designations listed below shall be awarded to the formations and units that distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of the cities of Konotop and Bakhmach:

"Konotop" —

143rd Rifle Division,

280th Rifle Division,

65th Guards Mortar Regiment;

"Bakhmach" —

75th Guards Rifle Division,

132nd Rifle Division,

221st Bomber Aviation Division,

3rd Guards Light Artillery Brigade,

56th Guards Mortar Regiment,

and these formations and units shall henceforth be named:

143rd Konotop Rifle Division,

280th Konotop Rifle Division,

65th Guards Konotop Mortar Regiment,

75th Guards Bakhmach Rifle Division,

132nd Bakhmach Rifle Division,

221st Bakhmach Bomber Aviation Division,

3rd Guards Bakhmach Light Artillery Brigade,

56th Guards Bakhmach Mortar Regiment.

The 70th Guards Glukhov Rifle Division, which has distinguished itself 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 9, at 20:00, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, salutes our valiant troops who have liberated the cities of Konotop and Bakhmach 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 Konotop and Bakhmach.

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 9, 1943 [No. 10]