In a 1942 message written to the Military Councils of the Armies of the Stalingrad Front, Commander of Troops General-Lieutenant Vasiliy Gordov voiced his frustrations over the fact that individual soldiers, and sometimes even entire units, were known to retreat from battle without authorization, only to face no punishment from higher headquarters. Pointing out that recent orders from the People’s Commissar of Defense [NKO] were being carried out “in an extremely unsatisfactory manner,” Gordov provides examples, most glaringly that of the entire 124th Rifle Division, which retreated without authorization, attempted to cross the Don, and left behind weapons and equipment. Gordov asserts that, at the very least, the division’s commanders and officers should have faced harsh punishment.
Gordov asserts that this will no longer be tolerated, and lays out six instructions, including dealing with self-inflicted injuries.
Co-signing the document were Military Council members Nikita Khrushchev and Aleksey Kirichenko.
The document was most likely released in the Mitrokhin-esque flurry of “declassifications” (more correctly, leaked information) without much ado, but with Vladimir Putin’s assumption of leadership of the country at the turn of the century, historical documents that paint the Soviet and Russian military in a less than shining light are often suppressed.
The translation of this document follows.
NKO – USSR
Military Council of the Stalingrad Front
8 August 1942
TO THE MILITARY COUNCILS OF THE ARMIES OF THE STALINGRAD FRONT
NKO Order No. 227 and Order No. 00162/op to the troops of the Front are being executed in an extremely unsatisfactory manner. It is still being explained and assurances are being given about its execution.
With that, individual front units continue to retreat without orders, exhibiting poor resistance to the enemy.
The Military Councils of the Armies, organs of the special branches, and prosecutors are lenient toward traitors and deserters, and do not punish them as required in NKO Order No. 227.
On 31 July 1942, the 124th Rifle Division retreated without orders and attempted to cross the Don river, throwing down weapons and equipment. Instead of harsh punishment from the division command, the Military Council of the 21st Army merely removed from office the division Military Commissar – Regimental Commissar VOGATIKOV, who drank heavily on a regular basis, indulged in debauchery, and during a period when the division was in battle, located himself far in the rear.
The newly-created barrier detachments have yet to become the formidable weapon that will suppress panic and treason, and penal companies are not working because the Military Councils feel that there is nobody to send to these companies.
The Military Council of the Front considers this position intolerable and categorically demands:
1. The immediate commencement of the practical execution of NKO Order No. 227;
2. Using all available forces and means, put an end to the retreat of units and individual soldiers without orders from higher headquarters;
3. The immediate use of the newly-created barrier detachments as intended, providing them with the required quantity of automatic weapons and vehicles;
4. The immediate posting of the newly-formed penal companies to the most important areas, assigning them with specific tasks, and demand that one’s guilt before the Motherland be atoned for with blood;
5. Stepping up the fight against the increasing incidents of self-inflicted injuries. Once tried, those who intentionally harm themselves, as traitors to the Motherland, are to be shot in front of a formation of the units.
6. The Military Council of the 21st Army within 24 hours is to investigate the unauthorized retreat of the 124th Rifle Division, render a decision regarding the guilty commanders and commissars, and in accordance with NKO Order No. 027, on 10 August 1942, report to the Military Council of the Front.
COMMANDER OF TROOPS OF THE STALINGRAD FRONT GENERAL-LIEUTENANT GORDOV
MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY COUNCIL OF THE STALINGRAD FRONT N. KHRUSHCHEV, A. KIRICHENKO
CERTIFIED BY SECRETARY OF THE MILITARY COUNCIL OF THE STALINGRAD FRONT BATTALION COMMISSAR MARKUN
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