Order of the Day, June 24, 1944

Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Colonel General Chernyakhovsky

Troops of the Third Byelorussian Front, supported by massed blows from artillery and aircraft, broke through the heavily fortified and deeply echeloned German defences in the Vitebsk fortified area, south of Vitebsk, on a sector of 30 kilometres, and advanced in two days offensive fighting to a depth of 25 kilometres, widening the breakthrough to a front of 80 kilometres, and liberating more than 300 populated places. Simultaneously, in the Orsha direction, troops of the front broke through the strong, deeply, echeloned enemy defences north of the river Dnieper on a front of 20 kilometres, and advanced up to 15 kilometres. In the fighting for the breakthrough of the German defences, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Lyudnikov, Lieut.-Gen. Galitsky, Lieut.-Gen. Glagolev, Maj.-Gen. Perekrestov, Maj.-Gen. Bezugly, Maj.-Gen. Kazartsev, Maj.-Gen. Poplavsky, Maj.-Gen. Vorobyev, Col. Klets, Lieut.- Gen. Koshevoi, Maj.-Gen. Provalov, Maj.-Gen. Kvashnin, Maj.-Gen. Alexeyenko, Maj.-Gen. Kalinin, Maj.-Gen. Gladyshev, Maj.-Gen. Laskin, Col. Bibikov and Col. Koshanov; artillerymen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Barsukov, Lieut.- Gen. of Artillery Nilovsky, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Deresh, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Fedorov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Rozhanovitch, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Kozhukov, Lieut.- Gen. of Artillery Semenov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Semin, Col. Kovalenko and Col. Lukyanov; tankmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Rodin, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Malakhov, Col. Semenyuk, Col. Kovalev and Col. Dukhovny; airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Khryukin, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Ushakov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Gorlachenko, Col. Prutkov and Col. Zimin; sappers commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Baranov, Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Gnedovsky, Col. Lukhashenko, Col. Soldatenkov and Col. Novikov, and signallers commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Signal Troops Lurov and Col. Prikhoday.

To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting are recommended for conferment of the name Vitebsk and for the award of orders.

Today, June 24, at 24.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of the Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the Third Byelorussian Front which broke through the German defences.

For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the breakthrough of the enemy defences. Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland! Death to the German invaders!

J. Stalin

Marshal of the Soviet Union

Supreme Commander-in-Chief