Order of the Day, June 26, 1944

Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army Generals Bagramyan and Chernyakhovsky Troops of the First Baltic Front and the Third Byelorussian Front, as a result of deep turning manoeuvres from the flanks, encircled the German Vitebsk grouping consisting of five infantry divisions. Tightening the ring of encirclement, our troops today, June 26, captured by storm the town of Vitebsk, large regional centre of Byelorussia, an important strategical centre of the German defences in the western direction.

In the fighting for the capture of Vitebsk, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Beloborodov, Lieut.-Gen. Lyud-nikov, Lieut.-Gen. I ,o pa tin, Lieut.- Gen. Lyuichtikov, Maj.-Gen. Ibyansky, Maj.-Gen. Prokofyev, Maj.-Gen. Bezugly, Maj.-Gen. Dibrov, Maj.-Gen. Ussachev, Maj.-Gen. Kvashnin, Maj.-Gen. Volkhin, Col. Lutskevich; Col. Baidak, Col. Savchenkp, Col. Goncharov, Col. Sinitsin and Col. Zhgutov; artillerymen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Barsukov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Shchegov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Deresh, Col. Lukyanov, Col. Kulikov, Lieut.-Col. Ilyichev, Lieut.-Col. Prussakov, Lieut.-Col. Lavrinovich and Lieut.-Col. Kiyan; tankmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen.- of Tank Troops Rodin, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Malakhov, Col. Kovalev, Maj. Zaitsev and Maj. Kupin; airmen commanded by Col.- Gen. of Aviation Khryukin, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Ivanov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Molokov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Gorlachenko, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Blagoveshchensky, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Zakharov, Lieut.-Col. Bolotov, Lieut.-Col. Shkulepov, Lieut.-Col. Nestoyanov and Maj. Vyssokossov; sappers under Lieut.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Baranov, Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Gnedovsky, Col. Gorodkov and Lieut.-Col. Ghizh, and signalmen under Maj.-Gen. of Signal Troops Babkin, Maj.-Gen. of Signal Troops Sorokin, Col. Rodionov and Lieut.-Col. Ageyev.

To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of Vitebsk will be recommended for conferment of the name Vitebsk, and for award of orders. Today, June 26, at 22.00. hours. (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the First Baltic Front and the Third Byelorussian Front, which captured the town of Vitebsk.

For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Vitebsk.

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