To the Commander of the Air Force of the Red Army,
Marshal of Aviation Comrade NOVIKOV.

I ORDER:

1. Immediately remove Colonel V.I. Stalin from the post of commander of an aviation regiment and do not give him any command posts until my order.

2. Announce to the regiment and to the former commander of the regiment, Colonel Stalin, that Colonel Stalin is being removed from the post of regimental commander for drunkenness and debauchery and for spoiling and corrupting the regiment.

3. Report execution.

People's Commissar of Defense

J. STALIN

May 26, 1943

Joseph Stalin in the Embrace of the Family. Moscow, 1993, pp. 91-92.