ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Colonel-General Tolbukhin

The troops of the Southern Front, as a result of fierce fighting, routed the Taganrog grouping of the Germans and today, August 30, captured the city of Taganrog.

This new victory won by our troops in the south was achieved as a result of a bold manoeuvre by cavalry and mechanized formations that broke through into the rear of the enemy forces.

As a result of the operation conducted, our troops completely liberated the Rostov Region from the German invaders.

In the fighting for the liberation of the Rostov Region and the city of Taganrog, the Kuban Cossack cavalrymen of Guards Lieutenant-General Kirichenko, the Stalingrad tankmen of Guards Lieutenant-General of Tank Forces Tanaschishine, the troops of Lieutenant-General Tsvetaev, Lieutenant-General Zakharov, Lieutenant-General Gerasimenko, Lieutenant-General Khomenko, and the airmen of Lieutenant-General of Aviation Khryukin distinguished themselves.

In honour of the liberation of the Rostov Region and the city of Taganrog, the designation "Taganrog" shall be awarded to:

the 130th Rifle Division,

the 416th Rifle Division, composed of Azerbaijanis,

and these divisions shall henceforth be named:

130th Taganrog Rifle Division,

416th Taganrog Rifle Division.

In honour of the victory at Taganrog, today, August 30, at 19:30, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, salutes our valiant troops who have liberated the Rostov Region and the city of Taganrog with twelve artillery salvoes from one hundred and twenty-four guns.

For the excellent combat operations, I declare my gratitude to all the troops under your command who participated in the operation for the liberation of the Rostov Region and the city of Taganrog, and first and foremost to:

the 130th Taganrog Rifle Division of Colonel Sychev,

the 416th Taganrog Rifle Division of Colonel Syzranov,

the 15th Mechanized Brigade of Major Tagirov,

the 6th Guards Tank Brigade of Lieutenant-Colonel Zhidkov,

the 32nd Guards Tank Brigade of Colonel Grinkevich,

the 4th Mechanized Brigade of Lieutenant-Colonel Yepanchin,

the 9th Guards Kuban Cavalry Division of Major-General Tutarinov,

the 30th Cavalry Division of Major-General Golovsky,

the 31st Guards Rifle Corps of Major-General Utvenko,

the Guards machine-gun and artillery battalions of the 1st Fortified Region of Colonel Sakseev,

the 2nd Guards Artillery Division of Colonel Alekseev,

the 236th Fighter Aviation Division of Colonel Kudryashov,

the 270th Bomber Aviation Division of Colonel Chuchev,

the 9th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of Lieutenant-Colonel Morozov,

the 31st Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of Major Yeremin.

Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom of our Motherland!

Death to the German occupiers!

Supreme Commander-in-Chief

Marshal of the Soviet Union I. STALIN

August 30, 1943 [No. 5]