offensive had mixed results, and was halted by December 12. It was followed on December 20-23 by a German counterstroke, Operation Nikolaus, which forced the right wing of 65th Army back by 25–30 km, losing most of the gains in the direction of Parichi and restoring the link between German 9th and 2nd Armies, but this did not directly affect the 354th. On December 27, General Alekseev handed command of the division over to Col. Nikolai Alexeevich Krimskii, who would remain in command until February 13, 1944. Alekseev moved to command of the new 105th Rifle Corps, which he would command for the duration, and which the 354th would later join. On January 2, 1944, Rokossovski received an order from the STAVKA, which began: Throughout this offensive, which began on January 8, 27th Corps was holding the line facing 4th Panzer, and later the 707th Security Division, northeast of Ozarichi. The attack made little ground in the first days, and a new plan was implemented on January 11, which soon overwhelmed the German lines. Kalinkovichi and Mozyr were liberated on January 14. Oddly, in spite of its passive role during this stage of the offensive, the 354th was awarded a divisional honorific: Ozarichi-Ptich Offensive Rokossovski was determined to continue his assaults on German 2nd Army, and after a brief pause launched a new offensive on January 16. General Batov's plan was to penetrate the German line along the Ipa River at the junction between 4th Panzer and the weak 707th Security Division. The penetration would be made overnight on January 15/16, led by advance detachments of ski troops from 19th Rifle Corps. 27th Corps was in the second echelon. The fast-moving and silent skiers got into the German rear and spread alarm, scattering the right wing of the security troops. 60th and 354th Rifle Divisions moved into the penetration and pushed westward 3–5 km towards Ozarichi, where the headquarters of XXXXI Panzer Corps was located; it was forced to displace to Parichi. By the end of the 19th these divisions were just 2 km from the eastern defenses of the town, and were being reinforced by elements of 105th Rifle Corps. Two days later, in heavy fighting, the 354th and 253rd Divisions fought their way into Ozarichi, but were unable to drive the 35th Infantry Division from its western outskirts. At this point the gap in the German defenses was