The Revolutionary Military Council of the Southern Front expresses comradely thanks for your greetings and for the Red banners which you have promised the regiments of the Southern Front.

The Revolutionary Military Council of the Southern Front will not forget that Petrograd was the first to come to the assistance of the Southern Front by sending thousands of advanced and battle-steeled workers, who inspired our divisions with faith in victory and completely transformed our front. It is above all to those workers, the worthy sons of Red Petrograd, that the Southern Front owes its latest successes.

Rest assured, comrades, that the troops of the Southern Front will justify the expectations of the Russian proletariat, and will with honour bear forward the banners presented to them until complete victory is won. Kiev and Kupyansk are already in our hands, and the moment is not far off when the Red banners will be unfurled over Rostov and Novocherkassk. Greetings to the workers of Petrograd! Greetings to the glorious sailors of the Baltic Fleet!

Stalin

Petrogradskaya Pravda, No. 289,

December 18, 1919