January 14, 1943*
* 
Tenent, your company has shown excellent things during last two days of fighting.*
*
Unfortunately the enemy has breached our line along the river north of here and our intelligence reports indicate that Soviet forces are turning south, without waiting for their armor, in order to take Gorodok before we can strengthen our positions there.*
* 
The hospital and surrounding area controls the trails leading south to Sinjawino heights. Should Sinjawino fall, our main supply line, the Kirow railway, will be in peril, and you realize what this means.*
*
Your company will redeploy around the Hospital along with other battered units that retreated from the north. We are holding the line so far, but the hospital is now virtually encircled. Enemy scouting elements have already slipped further south. Army HQ is sending reinforcements and first elements of 96th ID are not far from us, but we have to resist long enough for them to join us! We face this new danger with grim determination as our wounded comrades in the Hospital have no hope of survival if we fail and if we fail here - our supplies will be cut.*
