Leningrad newspaper "On Guard of the Motherland" dated July 21, 1943

On Guard for the Motherland

Daily Red Army Newspaper of the Leningrad Front
No. 168 (7400) — July 21, 1943, Wednesday — XXIV year of publication

DEATH TO THE GERMAN OCCUPIERS!

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Page 1

RESPONSIBILITY OF A COMMUNIST

All the combat experience of the Bolshevik Party, the entire history of its glorious and heroic revolutionary struggle, teaches that the strength of Bolshevism lies in its inseparable link with the masses, in its ability to merge with the people, to live their life and lead them forward. This precious heritage of Bolshevism is now fully passed on by the Party and the Army to local organizations during the Great Patriotic War.

For every soldier of our great army the word "communist" means a tested, loyal Bolshevik, a devoted defender of the Soviet Motherland.

A communist is responsible not only for himself but also for his comrades. He must raise the spirit of the soldiers and lead them forward. He must educate those around him by his personal example.

Not a single Red Army soldier, not a single junior commander has the right to be indifferent or negligent toward the fate of the Motherland. Every Red Army soldier is obliged to be at his place — in the ranks of the fighters for the freedom and independence of our Motherland.

Never, under any conditions, does a communist have the right to lag behind. He must always be in the forefront, where it is hardest, where courage and steadfastness are most required.

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ORDER TO THE TROOPS OF THE LENINGRAD FRONT

Field Army. July 17, 1943

On behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, for exemplary execution of combat missions of the Command in the struggle against the German invaders and for the valor and courage shown, to award:

ORDER OF THE RED BANNER

1. Major Krasnov Mikhail Alexandrovich

2. Lieutenant Colonel Piskunov Vasily Yakovlevich

3. Major Sadulchenko Dmitry Petrovich

4. Lieutenant Colonel Snetkov Mikhail Petrovich

5. Colonel Tarasenko Stepan Varfolomeevich

6. Colonel Cheremukhin Georgy Ivanovich

ORDER OF THE PATRIOTIC WAR, 1ST CLASS

1. Colonel Vasiliev Grigory Mikhailovich

2. Lieutenant Colonel Aksyonov Nikolai Nikolaevich

3. Captain Golovkin Ivan Ivanovich

ORDER OF THE PATRIOTIC WAR, 2ND CLASS

1. Senior Lieutenant Kamynin Nikolai Fyodorovich

2. Senior Lieutenant Suslov Ivan Vasilievich

3. Captain Stepanov Sergey Alexeyevich

ORDER OF THE RED STAR

1. Lieutenant Colonel Aksyonov Mikhail Vasilievich

2. Lieutenant Colonel Antonov Ivan Mikhailovich

3. Lieutenant Colonel Kozlov Nikolai Ivanovich

4. Captain Gavrilov Alexey Fyodorovich

5. Captain Lapin Mikhail Grigoryevich

6. Captain Kashin Nikolai Petrovich

7. Captain Kiselev Ivan Ivanovich

8. Captain Kotov Pyotr Nikolayevich

9. Captain Orlov Mikhail Sergeyevich

10. Senior Lieutenant Kuznetsov Vladimir Sergeyevich

11. Senior Lieutenant Nazarov Vasily Grigoryevich

12. Senior Lieutenant Tikhonov Vasily Alexeyevich

13. Senior Lieutenant Filippov Mikhail Grigoryevich

14. Lieutenant Sidorov Ivan Vasilyevich

15. Lieutenant Yuryev Mikhail Alexandrovich

MEDAL "FOR COMBAT MERIT"

1. Sergeant Borodin Ivan Ivanovich

2. Red Army soldier Ermakov Alexey Nikolaevich

3. Red Army soldier Kiselev Ivan Ivanovich

4. Red Army soldier Kotov Vasily Ivanovich

5. Red Army soldier Sidorenko Stepan Ivanovich

6. Red Army soldier Shumilov Alexander Vasilyevich

Commander of the Leningrad Front troops — General-Lieutenant Govorov
Member of the Military Council of the Leningrad Front — General-Lieutenant Zhdanov
Member of the Military Council of the Leningrad Front — General-Major Kuznetsov
Chief of Staff of the Leningrad Front — General-Lieutenant Gusev

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SUCCESSFUL RAID BY SCOUTS

Soldiers under the command of Senior Lieutenant Yermol destroyed about a hundred Germans and captured two prisoners.

Yermol’s scouts penetrated the enemy’s positions. Taking advantage of the darkness, they stealthily approached the trenches. With a sudden assault they stormed into the German positions. A fierce battle broke out. The enemy was taken by surprise and suffered heavy losses. Our fighters killed up to a hundred fascists and captured two alive, delivering them to headquarters.

(Signed) Senior Lieutenant I. Khrenov

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FROM THE SOVIET INFORMATION BUREAU

Operational report of July 20

During July 20, our troops on the Orel sector of the front, overcoming stubborn enemy resistance, continued their successful offensive in the same directions and advanced 8–10 kilometers. Our units captured the following populated places: Shchekotikhi, Mtsensk, Tereben, Buki, Radovishchi, Zhudre, Bukino, Livenka and others.

On the Belgorod direction, our troops fought their way forward and seized several populated points.

[...]

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THE IMMORTAL FEAT OF SOLDIER VLADIMIR YERMAK

The hero covered the enemy’s machine-gun embrasure with his body and ensured the advance of his unit.

In a fierce battle Vladimir Yermak showed an example of courage and heroism. When the advance of his unit was blocked by fire from an enemy bunker, Vladimir, without hesitation, threw himself onto the embrasure, covering it with his body and at the cost of his life opened the way for his comrades.

(Signed) Captain M. Isaev

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(photo caption in upper right corner)
"Since the beginning of the Patriotic War, the Voronin brothers, Guards soldiers, have been fighting the fascists side by side. One of them is a gun commander, the other is a gunner. In the photo: the Voronin brothers. Photo by V. Ustinov."

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Pages 2–3 (spread)

ACTIVELY AND CONTINUOUSLY RECONNOITER THE ENEMY’S ENGINEER BARRIERS

Reconnaissance of minefields
[Practical instructions to sappers on moving out to positions, methods of detecting mines, procedures for explosions and clearing barriers; safety guidance — text of the columns.]

Stories of seasoned soldiers — Sappers on reconnaissance
[Short notes and vignettes about the work of sappers behind enemy lines, examples of raids and demolitions.]

German obstacles blown up!
[Brief report on the destruction of barbed wire and minefields, capture of trophies.]

Mortar firing positions on soft ground
[Technical article: how to arrange platforms on wet soil, calculations for support in rainy weather, diagram.]

Accurate throws
[Short note about training grenade-throwing accuracy among sappers.]

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THE PARTY ORGANIZATION — A FIGHTING AIDE TO THE COMMANDER

From the experience of the Party organization of an Nth battalion

SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY
[Essays and speeches by Party organizers on the importance of political work in the units, specific assignments and their implementation.]

PARTY ASSIGNMENT
Every communist has his assignment... [description of Party assignment practice, control of execution, specific examples.]

A soldier’s conversation
[Talks with soldiers, their responses to Party work.]

On the starting line
[Report on preparatory works, engineering fortifications, barriers.]

Youth initiative
[Reports on Komsomol initiatives, help in the rear, awards.]

(Signatures of correspondents and Party workers: L. Pokrash, V. Strugin, E. Kirillov, etc.)

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VETERAN STORIES — SAPPERS ON RECONNAISSANCE

[Short memoir-style notes, anecdotes, instructive stories.]

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Page 4

FROM THE SOVIET INFORMATION BUREAU (conclusion)

[Continuation of operational report: actions on the Orel, Donbass, Belgorod fronts; numbers of captured settlements, trophies, destroyed enemy equipment; results of air battles.]

NEWS FROM THE FRONT

[Brief reports: air raids on the Orel railway junction and enemy airfields; successes of the Leningrad Front; destruction of enemy infrastructure.]

BEATEN BEASTS

(A satirical column with a cartoon of Hitler and his cronies — an image of a "broken wheel" and "falling tiger." Signed: A. Fait.)

ABROAD

Allied landing operations on the island of Sicily — London, July 20 (TASS).
[Overview of Anglo-American landings on Sicily, actions of the Allied troops, results of the first days.]

Results of raids on the Peugeot factory and Cologne — London, July 20 (TASS).
[Report on bombings of industrial sites and their consequences.]

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IN THE HOMELAND

Story of Hero of the Soviet Union Guards Sergeant N. Antonov (or Lapin) — narrative about his life, combat feats, wartime hardships and helping families of soldiers.

(photo of the Hero of the Soviet Union with caption)

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Responsible editor: M. Gordon
Address: Field Post 22485 D

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