Decree of the State Defense Committee No. GKO-169ss (00381), 16 July 1941

Source: Tom 18

Source: Tom 18

The State Defense Committee establishes that in the majority of cases, units of the Red Army hold high the great banner of Soviet power in their battles with the German invaders and conduct themselves satisfactorily, and sometimes with outright heroism, defending their native land from the fascist plunderers.

However, alongside this, the State Defense Committee must acknowledge that individual commanders and rank-and-file soldiers display instability, panic, disgraceful cowardice, abandon their weapons, and, forgetting their duty to the Motherland, grossly violate the military oath, turning into a herd of sheep fleeing in panic from an enemy emboldened by impunity.

Paying tribute of honor and glory to the valiant soldiers and commanders, the State Defense Committee at the same time considers it necessary that the strictest measures be taken against cowards, panic-mongers, and deserters.

A panic-monger, a coward, or a deserter is worse than the enemy, for he not only undermines our cause but also besmirches the honor of the Red Army. Therefore the punishment of panic-mongers, cowards, and deserters and the restoration of military discipline is our sacred duty, if we wish to preserve untarnished the great title of a soldier of the Red Army.

Proceeding from this, the State Defense Committee, on the recommendation of the Commanders-in-Chief and the commanders of fronts and armies, has arrested and committed for trial before a military tribunal, for conduct that disgraces the title of commander -- cowardice, inaction, lack of initiative, collapse of troop control, surrender of weapons to the enemy without a fight, and unauthorized abandonment of combat positions:

1) the former Commander of the Western Front, Army General Pavlov;

2) the former Chief of Staff of the Western Front, Major-General Klimovskikh;

3) the former Chief of Communications of the Western Front, Major-General Grigoryev;

4) the former Commander of the 4th Army of the Western Front, Major-General Korobkov;

5) the former Commander of the 41st Rifle Corps of the Northwestern Front, Major-General Kosobutsky;

6) the former Commander of the 60th Mountain Rifle Division of the Southern Front, Major-General Selikhov [correctly: Salikhov -- Ed.];

7) the former Deputy Commander of the 60th Mountain Rifle Division of the Southern Front, Regimental Commissar Kurochkin;

8) the former Commander of the 30th Rifle Division [correctly: Mountain Rifle -- Ed.] of the Southern Front, Major-General Galaktionov;

9) the former Deputy Commander of the 30th Rifle Division of the Southern Front, Regimental Commissar Eliseyev.

Paying due tribute to the valiant and courageous soldiers and commanders who have covered themselves with glory in the battles against the fascist invaders, the State Defense Committee warns that it will continue to crush with an iron hand every manifestation of cowardice and disorganization in the ranks of the Red Army, bearing in mind that iron discipline in the Red Army is the most important condition for victory over the enemy.

The State Defense Committee demands that commanders and political workers of all ranks systematically strengthen discipline and organization in the ranks of the Red Army, that they inspire soldiers to great feats by their personal example of bravery and valor, and that they prevent panic-mongers, cowards, and disorganizers from besmirching the great banner of the Red Army, dealing with them as violators of the military oath and traitors to the Motherland.

Chairman of the State Defense Committee

I. Stalin

To the Commanders-in-Chief, military councils of fronts and armies, commanders of military districts, commanders of corps and divisions. This decree of the State Defense Committee is to be read in all companies, batteries, squadrons, air squadrons.

RGASPI. F. 644. Op. 1. D. 3. L. 95-96.