Maj. Gen. Ganii Bekinovich Safiulin, who had commanded the 38th since June 15, 1942, remained in command. In reply to a request from the Don Front's Military Council and local authorities of Stalingrad Oblast the "STAVKA" had conferred the honorific "Stalingrad" on the division as a whole and individual titles on its regiments from four villages in the Oblast. As 64th Army moved north towards Kursk the German counteroffensive at Kharkov was unfolding. As elements of the SS Panzer Corps entered Belgorod on March 18 forces of the Soviet 69th Army were taking up a defense along the east bank of the Northern Donets. The next day the 73rd Guards began to assemble in the Shebekino - Miasoedovo area and on March 24 the 64th Army took over the 69th's defense sector. On April 17 the 64th officially became the 7th Guards, General Safiulin was moved to command of the new 25th Guards Rifle Corps and Col. Semyon Antonovich Kozak took over command of the division.