Order of the Day, August 30, 1943

Issued by Marshal Statin, and addressed to Colonel-General Tolbukhin

As a result of violent battles, the troops of the southern front have routed the Germans' Taganrog grouping and today, August 30, captured the town of Taganrog. This new victory gained by our troops in the South was achieved as a result of a bold manoeuvre by cavalry and mechanized formations which broke through into the rear of the enemy troops. As a result of the operation our troops have completely liberated the Rostov Region from the German invaders. In the fighting for the liberation of the Rostov Region and the town of. Taganrog, Kuban Cossack cavalry under Guards Lieutenant-General Kirichenko, the Stalingrad tankmen under Guards Lieutenant-General of tank troops Tanashikhin, troops under Lieutenant-General Tzvetayev, Lieutenant-General Zakharov, Lieutenant-General Gerasimenko and Lieutenant-General Khomenko, and airmen under Lieutenant-General of Aviation Khryukin, particularly distinguished themselves. To commemorate the liberation of the Rostov Region and the town of Taganrog, the name of Taganrog Divisions will be conferred upon the 130th Infantry Division and the 416th Infantry Division, composed of Azerbaidjanians. These divisions will henceforth be known as the 130th Taganrog Infantry Division and the 416th Taganrog Infantry Division.

In honour of the victory at Taganrog today, August 30, at 19.30 Moscow time, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, will salute with twelve artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops which have liberated the Rostov Region and the town of Taganrog.

For the excellent military operations, I express my thanks to all the troops led by you which have taken part in the operation for the liberation of the Rostov Region and the town of Taganrog, and above all to the 130th Taganrog Infantry Division commanded by Colonel Sychov, the 416th Taganrog Infantry Division commanded by Colonel Syzranov, the 15th Mechanized Brigade commanded by Major Tatirov, the 6th Guards Tank Brigade commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Zhidkov, the 32nd Guards Tank Brigade commanded by Colonel Grinevich, the 4th Mechanized Brigade commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Yepanshin, the 9th Guards Kuban Cavalry Division commanded by Major-General Tatarinov, the 30th Cavalry Division commanded by Major-General Golovsky, the 31st Guards Infantry Corps commanded by Major-General Ut-venko, the Guards Machine-Guns Artillery Battalions of the first fortified area commanded by Colonel Dakhteyev, the 2nd Guards Artillery Division commanded by Colonel Alekseyev, the 236th Air Fighter Division commanded by Colonel Kudryashev, the 270th Air Bomber Division commanded by Colonel Chuchev, the 9th Guards Air Fighter Regiment commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Morozov, and the 31st Guards Air Fighter Regiment commanded by Major Yeremin.

Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fight for the freedom of our Motherland! Death to the German invaders! Stalin

Supreme Commander-in-Chief

Marshal of the Soviet Union