Directive of the Stavka of the Supreme Command No. 001919 to the Commanders of Fronts, Armies, Division Commanders, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Southwestern Direction, 12 September 1941

Source: Tom 18

Source: Tom 18

The experience of the struggle against German fascism has shown that in our rifle divisions there are not a few panic-prone and outright hostile elements who, at the first pressure from the enemy, throw down their weapons, start shouting "We're surrounded!" and carry the rest of the troops along with them. As a result of the actions of such elements, the division takes flight, abandons its materiel, and then individuals begin to emerge from the forest. Such occurrences are taking place on all fronts. If the commanders and commissars of such divisions were equal to their task, panic-prone and hostile elements would not be able to gain the upper hand in the division. But the trouble is that firm and steadfast commanders and commissars are not all that numerous among us.

In order to prevent the above-described undesirable phenomena at the front, the Stavka of the Supreme Command orders:

1. In every division there is to be a blocking detachment of reliable soldiers, numbering no more than a battalion (at the rate of one company per rifle regiment), subordinate to the division commander and having at its disposal, in addition to ordinary armament, means of transport in the form of trucks and several tanks or armored cars.

2. The tasks of the blocking detachment are to be considered: direct assistance to the command staff in maintaining and establishing firm discipline in the division; halting the flight of panic-stricken servicemen, not stopping short of the use of weapons; the liquidation of the instigators of panic and flight; support of the honest and combat-worthy elements of the division who are not susceptible to panic but are carried along by the general flight.

3. Special department personnel and the political staff of divisions are to be obliged to render all possible assistance to division commanders and blocking detachments in the matter of strengthening order and discipline in the division.

4. The creation of blocking detachments is to be completed within five days of receipt of this order.

5. Commanders of fronts and armies are to report on receipt and execution.

Stavka of the Supreme Command

I. Stalin

B. Shaposhnikov

Note on the document: "Dictated personally by Comrade Stalin (B. Shaposhnikov)."

TsAMO RF. F. 251. Op. 646. D. 465. L. 231-233.