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1. The experience of the recent battles proved the changes in the German tactics. Instead of sending the heavy tanks (Pz.-V, Pz.-VI) forward, the enemy detaches the small group of light and medium tanks with the objective to reveal the positions of our guns and other AT means. At the moment when the forward group attacks our positions, the heavy tanks wage counter-battery fire on the suppression of the revealed AT means from the distance of 1.5-2 km, from the shot stops. This tactics allows the Germans to secure the success of their tank attacks.
It was noted that some our commanding officers open the fire from all points without waiting the Germans to close. It is absolutely clear that the aim of enemy's actions is exactly to make our troops reveal the positions of AT means.
2. Despite all the efforts invested in the organizing AT units, it was observed that in the direct violation of orders, the completion of these units is not upto the demands.
3. It was observed that our troops can not use the terrain for setting the effective AT defense.
I command:
1. Open the fire only at the close, point blank ranges allowing effective destruction of the German tanks.
2. Using the natural obstacles, prepare the ambushes.
3. On the open terrain, prepare fire sacks for the German tanks. For the purpose, on the directions of the probable tank attacks, special guns (battery) for the attracting the enemy's tanks by the fire from 1,5 km under the flank fire of the hidden guns. Mine fields on flanks of these sacks are desirable.
4. For fighting heavy tanks and self-propelled guns, use SU-85, 122- and 152-mm gun batteries. The fire should be opened before all targets are determined and are at the range of the effective hit. These groups are included in the general anti-tank defense of the sectors and must be in contact with other AT units. The groups are to be hidden to prevent the enemy finding them.
5. The officers guilty of the premature opening the fire are to severely punished.
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11. The front line must be enforced by mine fields on the tank dangerous directions. The mines shall be placed not further than 30-50 m from our positions.
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13. The minefields are to covered by gun batteries. Recommended is the positioning of guns so as to make Germans to turn on the mine fields.
Each gun must be assigned clearly defined sector of fire.
14. On the important direction, not less than 15-25 At guns on 1 km of the from line must be placed in three lines. The first line is placed on the second line of the defense, the second and third AT lines - in 600 km one after another.
15. The sectors assigned to heavy gun batteries must overlap each other on the minefields.
16. The plans of fire are to be agreed with Commanders of artillery. Cooperation between troops is to be verified by the Commander of the Front.
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21. Special care shall be taken to provide the engineer and AT units with sufficient number of transport means to allow their fast transfer between sectors.
Signed by the Commander of the 1st Baltic front Guard General Bagramian.
I have omitted the typical for the time passages about intensifying the political work among the troops etc. Tigers were always the first care of the Red Army.
Other orders prescribe to destroy Tigers by all means with stress on the reactive artillery "Katjusha's", which seem to be the reliable cure against Tigers and Ferdinands. At he same time this order gives clear picture of tactics used by the opposing sides.
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