Order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
27 July 1944
[No. 151]

ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Colonel-General Zakharov

The troops of the 2nd Byelorussian Front, after two days of fighting, today, 27 July, captured by storm the town and large industrial centre of Bialystok — an important railway junction and powerful fortified area of the German defences covering the routes to Warsaw.

In the fighting for the capture of the town of Bialystok, distinction was earned by the troops of Colonel-General Gorbatov, Major-General Urbanovich, Major-General Chuvakov, Major-General Kuznetsov, Colonel Telkov, Colonel Verevkin, Major-General Kubasov, Colonel Konovalov, Major-General Panchuk, Colonel Mikhalitsin, Major-General Nikitin, Major-General Maslov, Major-General Mokhin, Colonel Grekov, Major-General Yakimovich; artillerymen of Lieutenant-General of Artillery Sokolsky, Lieutenant-General of Artillery Semyonov, Major-General of Artillery Degtyarev, Colonel Medvedev, Colonel Bychek, Colonel Kandidatov, Colonel Dergach, Colonel Airapetov, Colonel Kileyev, Colonel Syrovatkin, Lieutenant-Colonel Voitsyekhovsky, Lieutenant-Colonel Ushakov, Lieutenant-Colonel Gorodnichev, Major Alimbayev, Major Poplavsky, Lieutenant-Colonel Murinov, Lieutenant-Colonel Makaryev, Lieutenant-Colonel Yaskevich, Colonel Korytko, Lieutenant-Colonel Kovalevich, Major Proskurin, Colonel Drabkov, Lieutenant-Colonel Moskalev; tankmen of Major-General of Tank Forces Shirobokow, Colonel Oparin, Lieutenant-Colonel Zirka, Major Vedekhin, Major Plaksin, Lieutenant-Colonel Grdzyelishvili; airmen of Colonel-General of Aviation Vershinin, Major-General of Aviation Getman, Colonel Smolovik, Colonel Vuss, Colonel Volkov, Lieutenant-Colonel Pokoyevoy, Lieutenant-Colonel Kozachenko, Lieutenant-Colonel Bardeyev, Lieutenant-Colonel Yeliseyev; sappers of Major-General of Engineer Forces Blagoslavov, Major-General of Engineer Forces Zhilin, Colonel Artsishevsky, Colonel Shitikov, Lieutenant-Colonel Sitkov, Colonel Matochkin, Major Kozhin; signallers of Major-General of Signal Forces Mishin, Lieutenant-Colonel Vronsky, Lieutenant-Colonel Kurakov, [Colonel] Khilchenko, Lieutenant-Colonel Shapovalov, Lieutenant-Colonel Kurtukov, Colonel Khomyakov, Major Zharikov.

In commemoration of the victory won, the formations and units that have most distinguished themselves in the fighting for the capture of the town of Bialystok are to be submitted for the conferral of the designation "Bialystok" and for decoration with orders.

Today, 27 July, at 20 hours, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland salutes the valiant troops of the 2nd Byelorussian Front, who have captured the town of Bialystok, with twenty artillery salvoes from two hundred and twenty-four guns.

For distinguished combat operations I declare my gratitude to the troops under your command who took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Bialystok.

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

Death to the German invaders!

Supreme Commander-in-Chief

Marshal of the Soviet Union I. STALIN

27 July 1944 [No. 151]