Telegram to K.K. Rokossovsky, November 23, 1942

Source: Tom 18

To Comrade Rokossovsky

I congratulate you and the troops of the Don Front on the successful completion of the encirclement of the enemy's Stalingrad grouping. I instruct you to ensure that the encirclement ring is dense and solid. The main task now is to ensure that not a single enemy soldier escapes the encirclement and that the enemy is unable to break through the ring from within or without.

Stalin