▁commander ▁of ▁a ▁batt alion ▁of ▁students ▁at ▁the ▁Om sk ▁Infantry ▁School . ▁Return ing ▁to ▁the ▁front ▁in ▁January ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁Bak lan ov ▁took ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 5 7 th ▁R if le ▁Brigade , ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 1 th ▁Army ▁of ▁the ▁North western ▁Front , ▁distingu ishing ▁himself ▁in ▁fighting ▁at ▁Star aya ▁Russ a . ▁Trans ferred ▁south ▁to ▁command ▁the ▁ 2 9 9 th ▁R if le ▁Division ▁in ▁June ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁he ▁led ▁it ▁in ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁St aling rad ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁ 6 6 th ▁Army . ▁ 6 6 th ▁Army ▁commander ▁Rod ion ▁Mal in ov sky ▁evaluated ▁Bak lan ov ▁as ▁a ▁" person ally ▁brave , ▁strong - w illed , ▁and ▁demand ing ▁commander ... quick ly ▁acqu iring ▁experience ▁in ▁division ▁command ... a ▁developing , ▁capable ▁commander ." ▁He ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁Order ▁of ▁Alexander ▁Nev sky ▁and ▁the ▁American ▁Dist ingu ished ▁Service ▁Cross ▁for ▁his ▁actions ▁at ▁St aling rad , ▁and ▁promoted ▁to ▁major ▁general ▁on ▁ 1 ▁March ▁ 1 9 4 3 . ▁ ▁Bak lan ov ▁was ▁transferred ▁to ▁command ▁the ▁ 1 3 th ▁Gu ards ▁R if le ▁Division ▁in ▁May ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁leading ▁it ▁in ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Kur sk ▁and ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁the ▁D nie per ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁ 3 2 nd ▁Gu ards