ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Army General Chernyakhovsky

To Marshal of the Soviet Union Rokossovsky

The troops of the 3rd Byelorussian Front, as a result of a swift offensive by tank formations and infantry north-west of Minsk, captured the regional centre of Byelorussia, the city of Vileika, and the important railway station and city of Krasnoye. Thus our troops cut the German lines of communication from Minsk to Vilno and Lida.

Simultaneously, south-west of Minsk, the troops of the 1st Byelorussian Front, with a swift blow by cavalry, tank formations, and infantry, captured the cities and important communications hubs of Stolbtsy, Gorodeya, and Nesvizh, thereby cutting the German lines of communication from Minsk to Brest and Luninets.

In this swift manoeuvre and in the fighting for the cities of Vileika, Krasnoye, Stolbtsy, Gorodeya, and Nesvizh, the following troops distinguished themselves: the tankmen of Lieutenant General of Tank Forces Obukhov, Major General of Tank Forces Aslanov, Colonel Rodionov, Colonel Kremer, Lieutenant Colonel Sokolov, Major Turchin; the cavalry formations of the Kuban Cossacks of Lieutenant General Pliev, Major General Tutarinov, Major General Godovsky, Colonel Poprikaylo; the forces of Lieutenant General Krylov, Lieutenant General Luchinsky, Colonel General Batov, Colonel General Galitsky, Major General Perkorovich, Major General Shvarev; the artillerymen of Lieutenant Colonel Narkhozdzhayev, Colonel Vakhromeyev, Major Solomonnikov, Major Podoprigora, Captain Yakovlev, Captain Ibragimov; and the airmen of Colonel General of Aviation Khryukin, Colonel General of Aviation Rudenko.

In commemoration of the victory achieved, the formations and units that have most distinguished themselves in the fighting for the capture of the cities of Vileika, Krasnoye, Stolbtsy, Gorodeya, and Nesvizh are to be nominated for decoration with orders.

Today, July 2, at 23:00 hours, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, salutes the valiant troops of the 3rd Byelorussian Front and the 1st Byelorussian Front who have captured the cities of Vileika, Krasnoye, Stolbtsy, Gorodeya, and Nesvizh — with twenty artillery salvoes from two hundred and twenty-four guns.

For excellent combat operations I declare gratitude to the troops under your command who participated in the fighting for the capture of the cities of Vileika, Krasnoye, Stolbtsy, Gorodeya, and Nesvizh.

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

Death to the German invaders!

Supreme Commander-in-Chief

Marshal of the Soviet Union I. STALIN

July 2, 1944 [No. 127]