ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Army General Malinovsky

To Colonel-General Tolbukhin

The troops of the South-Western Front, continuing their successful offensive, today, September 10, captured the city of Barvenkovo and the city and most important railway junction of Chaplino. On this same day, the troops of the Southern Front, in a swift strike, captured the most important railway junction in the Azov region — the city of Volnovakha, and, advancing along the coast of the Azov Sea, liberated from the German invaders a large centre of the metallurgical industry of the south — the city and port of Mariupol.

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

In the fighting for the cities of Mariupol, Barvenkovo, Volnovakha, and Chaplino, the Don Cossack cavalrymen of Major-General Selivanov, the tankmen of Lieutenant-General of Tank Forces Pushkin and Lieutenant-General Russiyanov, the troops of Lieutenant-General Chuikov, Lieutenant-General Lelyushenko, Lieutenant-General Khomenko, the airmen of Lieutenant-General of Aviation Sudets, Lieutenant-General of Aviation Khryukin, Major-General of Aviation Tulikov, and the sailors of Rear-Admiral Gorshkov, who landed a force west of Mariupol, distinguished themselves.

The following particularly distinguished themselves:

the 11th Guards Don Cavalry Division of Colonel Slanov, the 130th Taganrog Rifle Division of Colonel Sychev, the 221st Rifle Division of Colonel Blazhevich, the 3rd Guards Rifle Division of Major-General Tsalikov, the 39th Guards Rifle Division of Colonel Leshchinin, the 9th Guards Fighter Aviation Division of Colonel Dzusov, the 5th Guards Mechanized Brigade of Colonel Safronov, the 6th Guards Mechanized Brigade of Colonel Artemenko, the 12th Motorized Rifle Brigade of Lieutenant-Colonel Zharov, the 3rd Tank Brigade of Lieutenant-Colonel Devyatko, the 39th Tank Brigade of Lieutenant-Colonel Bespalov, the 31st Guards Independent Tank Brigade of Major-General of Tank Forces Burdov, the 65th Tank Brigade of Colonel Shevchenko, the 1890th Independent Self-Propelled Light Artillery Regiment of Lieutenant-Colonel Turin, the 517th Independent Tank Battalion of Captain Nesterov.

In honour of the victory achieved, the designations listed below shall be awarded to the formations and units that distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of the cities of Mariupol, Volnovakha, Chaplino, and Barvenkovo:

"Mariupol" —

221st Rifle Division,

9th Guards Fighter Aviation Division;

"Volnovakha" —

11th Guards Don Cavalry Division,

3rd Guards Rifle Division,

5th Guards Mechanized Brigade,

6th Guards Mechanized Brigade,

12th Motorized Rifle Brigade,

65th Tank Brigade;

"Chaplino" —

3rd Tank Brigade,

39th Tank Brigade;

"Barvenkovo" —

39th Guards Rifle Division,

31st Guards Independent Tank Brigade,

1890th Independent Self-Propelled Light Artillery Regiment,

517th Independent Tank Battalion.

These formations and units shall henceforth be named:

221st Mariupol Rifle Division,

9th Guards Mariupol Fighter Aviation Division,

11th Guards Volnovakha Don Cavalry Division,

3rd Guards Volnovakha Rifle Division,

5th Guards Volnovakha Mechanized Brigade,

6th Guards Volnovakha Mechanized Brigade,

12th Volnovakha Motorized Rifle Brigade,

65th Volnovakha Tank Brigade,

3rd Chaplino Tank Brigade,

39th Chaplino Tank Brigade,

39th Guards Barvenkovo Rifle Division,

31st Guards Barvenkovo Independent Tank Brigade,

1890th Barvenkovo Independent Self-Propelled Light Artillery Regiment,

517th Barvenkovo Independent Tank Battalion.

The 130th Taganrog Rifle Division, which has distinguished itself for the second time in fighting against the German invaders, shall be proposed for the award of the Order of the Red Banner.

Today, September 10, at 20:00, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, salutes our valiant troops who have liberated the cities of Mariupol, Volnovakha, Chaplino, and Barvenkovo 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 fighting for Mariupol, Volnovakha, Chaplino, and Barvenkovo.

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

Death to the German invaders!

Supreme Commander-in-Chief

Marshal of the Soviet Union I. STALIN

September 10, 1943 [No. 11]