ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Army General Konev

The troops of the Steppe Front, successfully developing their offensive, forced the River Vorskla and after three days of intense fighting today, 23 September, captured the regional centre of Ukraine, the city of Poltava — a powerful German defensive strongpoint on Left-Bank Ukraine.

In the fighting for the liberation of the city of Poltava, the troops of Lieutenant-General Zhadov, Lieutenant-General Managarov, and the airmen of Lieutenant-General of Aviation Goryunov distinguished themselves.

Those who especially distinguished themselves were:

The 9th Guards Airborne Division of Colonel Sazonov, the 13th Guards Red Banner Order-of-Lenin Rifle Division of Major-General Baklanov, the 66th Guards Rifle Division of Major-General Yanshin, the 95th Guards Rifle Division of Major-General Nikitchenko, the 97th Guards Rifle Division of Colonel Antsiferov, the 84th Kharkov Rifle Division of Major-General Bunyashin, the 42nd Light Artillery Brigade of Colonel Skorodumov, the 301st Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment of Lieutenant-Colonel Vlasenko, the 57th Tank Regiment of Lieutenant-Colonel Fyodorov, the 431st Engineer Battalion of Engineer-Lieutenant-Colonel Baltuzevich, the 294th Fighter Aviation Division of Lieutenant-Colonel Taranenko, and the 266th Assault Aviation Division of Colonel Rodyakin.

To commemorate the victory won, the formations and units that distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of the city of Poltava shall be awarded the designation "Poltava."

Henceforth these formations and units shall be named:

9th Guards Poltava Airborne Division,

13th Guards Red Banner Order-of-Lenin Poltava Rifle Division,

66th Guards Poltava Rifle Division,

95th Guards Poltava Rifle Division,

97th Guards Poltava Rifle Division,

42nd Poltava Light Artillery Brigade,

301st Poltava Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment,

57th Poltava Tank Regiment,

431st Poltava Engineer Battalion,

294th Poltava Fighter Aviation Division,

266th Poltava Assault Aviation Division.

The 84th Kharkov Rifle Division, which has distinguished itself for the second time in fighting against the German invaders, shall be recommended for the award of the Order of the Red Banner.

Today, 23 September, at 21:00 hours, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland salutes our valiant troops who liberated the city of Poltava, with twelve artillery salvoes from one hundred and twenty-four guns.

For excellent combat operations I declare my gratitude to all the troops under your command who took part in the fighting for the liberation of the city of Poltava.

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

23 September 1943 [No. 22]