ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Marshal of the Soviet Union Rokossovsky

The troops of the 1st Byelorussian Front today, July 8, as a result of an encircling manoeuvre by cavalry and tank formations combined with a frontal attack by infantry, captured the regional centre of Byelorussia, the city of Baranovichi — an important railway junction and powerful fortified defensive area of the Germans covering the directions toward Byelostok and Brest.

In the fighting for the capture of the city of Baranovichi and the Baranovichi fortified area, the following troops distinguished themselves: the forces of Lieutenant General Luchinsky, Colonel General Batov, Major General Perkorovich, Major General Shvarev, Major General Alekseyev, Major General Ivanov, Colonel Sychev, Major General Vladychansky, Major General Danilov, Major General Kuznetsov, Major General Borisov, Major General Frolonkov, Major General Gorishny, Colonel Dzhandzghava, Colonel Morozov, Major General Grebennik; the Kuban Cossack cavalrymen of Lieutenant General Pliev, Colonel Poprikaylo, Major General Tutarinov, Major General Golovskoy; the tankmen of Major General of Tank Forces Bakharov, Colonel Kuznetsov, Lieutenant Colonel Baranyuk, Lieutenant Colonel Boiko, Lieutenant Colonel Trushkin, Lieutenant Colonel Kostyuchenko, Lieutenant Colonel Verlyan, Lieutenant Colonel Gatsuk, Lieutenant Colonel Sokolov, Major Turchin; the artillerymen of Colonel Kirillov, Major Danilchenko, Major Afanasyev, Lieutenant Colonel Kislitsky, Lieutenant Colonel Kudymov, Lieutenant Colonel Khlopenko, Lieutenant Colonel Novikov, Major Solomonnikov, Major Podoprigory, Captain Yakovlev, Captain Ibragimov, Colonel Korchagin, Major Shmigel; the airmen of Colonel General of Aviation Rudenko, Lieutenant General of Aviation Osipenko, Major General of Aviation Dzusov, Major General of Aviation Komarov, Colonel Chirva, Colonel Sherstyuk; and the sappers of Major General of Engineer Forces Ioffe, Colonel Voronov.

In commemoration of the victory achieved, the formations and units that have most distinguished themselves in the fighting for the capture of the city of Baranovichi and the Baranovichi fortified area are to be nominated for the designation "Baranovichi" and for decoration with orders.

Today, July 8, at 22:00 hours, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, salutes the valiant troops of the 1st Byelorussian Front who have captured Baranovichi — 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 Baranovichi.

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 8, 1944 [No. 132]