Found in OPERATION BAGRATION: THE DESTRUCTION OF ARMY GROUP CENTRE JUNE-JULY 1944 -- A Photographic History by Ian Baxter

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Hitler's Operation Order No. 8

Issued by Army Group Centre
Distribution: 3, 5 copies

This message passes on to Army Commander

The Führer orders to Army Group Centre:

To ensure security, their tactical content is to be passed to corps and divisional commanders orally and only to the extent that it concerns them. The Führer's other requirements are to be passed on in an appropriate manner to all ranks. The orders are to be destroyed once read and understood. The orders for the fortified positions of Bobruisk and Mogilev under Führer Order No. 11 are not affected by these orders.

(Signed) BUSCH
HQ ARMY GROUP CENTRE

Operation Order No.8

Instructions for the further conduct of operations by Army Group Centre.

The enemy advance on Army Group Centre's sector must now be halted once and for all. To this end I have ordered reinforcement with panzer and infantry divisions, assault gun brigades from other Army Groups and from Germany, this on a scale and at a pace only to be achieved at the cost of weakening other fronts. I have also reinforced 6th Air Force to an extent which makes it by far the stronger air force on the Eastern Front. What I now expect of the Army Group is; however, that no yard of ground shall be given up without fighting for it, and that every commander and man in the Army Group shall have instilled in him the iron will to hold firm. The furthermost line at which the Russian offensive must be halted, cost what it may, is as follows: Lake Chervonoye - Lyuban - Star Dorogi -Osipovichi — River Svisloch — River Beresina to Beresina — Lake Lukomlskoye — present position of 3rd Panzer Army. To the extent that the enemy has already passed this line, he is to be thrown back forthwith by the ruthless employment of all available troops. To the extent that this line may be forced back further, it is to be restored gradually by whatever means possible in short, rigidly controlled bounds. Our troops must make it a point of honour to take all their equipment with them. Ground ceded to the enemy is to be scorched as far as possible; any weapons and stores that our troops are forced to leave behind must be completely destroyed. The task of the Panzer formations, following the principles whose success is so well proven, is to destroy enemy groups that have forced their way forward by a series of swift, sharp punches. I forbid the use of panzer formations in containing positions.

My detailed orders are as follows:

1. Three counterstroke groups are to be formed:

a. In 9th Army area, 12th and 20th Pz.Div under HQ XXXXI Pz. Corps

b. In the 4th Army area, 5th Pz. Div and 505th Heavy Tank Btn (Tiger), under command of Lt-Gen von Saucken; to this end HQ XXXIX Pz. Corps is to be placed at his disposal for the time being.

c. In the 3rd Panzer Army's area, 212th Inf. Div and 227th and 232nd Assault Gun Brigades.

d. A decision on the employment of 4th Pz. Div will be taken at the appropriate time.

2. 9th Army is to restore a continuous front on its sector by pulling back centre and left and making offensive use of its mobile formations. During these operations, it must not lose contact with 4th Army's right. The critical factor here is 4th Army's rate of movement.

3. 4th Army is to fall back by short bounds with a continuous front on to the line River Beresina - Lake Lukomlskoye. In doing this, it must use mobile formations to support its flank. Mogilev and Orsha are to be held for at least a matter of days, so as to tie down enemy forces and thus facilitate the build-up of the final defensive front further to the rear. Every man in these garrisons must be made aware of the decisive importance of this task.

4. 3rd Panzer Army is to continue holding its present positions or, as needs be, to fight itself clear. Under no circumstances must it let itself be forced further back.

I am confident that the Army Group will do everything in its power to accomplish the task set it. I expect my confidence to be justified.

Signed
ADOLF HITLER

Authenticated,
Lieut