"Order of the People's Commissar of Defense #0909 On Equipping Training Tank Units with Transient Personnel
November 26th, 1942
In order to fill tank crews with well trained, brave, decisive, and battle-tested soldiers and NCOs, I order that:
- 8000 men from the active army are to be sent to tank units every month by the 15th according to the attached schedule for the next two months (December and January).
- Soldiers and NCOs are to be picked from the ranks of privates and junior commanders who showed courage, decisiveness, and devotion to the Motherland, no older than 35, literate, and well versed in Russian.40% of those picked should be junior commanders.
- Perform the selection with commission from representatives of the Front and Main Armour Directorate of the Red Army.
People's Commissar of Defense,
I. Stalin"