Stalin, Opere Vol 15. Luglio 1941-Novembre 1934
da https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/stalin/works/collected/volume15/index.htm
[Published by Red Star Press, Ltd.]
RADIO BROADCAST, July 3, 1941
SPEECH TO STATE COMMITTEE FOR DEFENCE Moscow, Kremlin. October 19, 1941
SPEECH AT CELEBRATION MEETING OF THE MOSCOW SOVIET OF WORKING PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES AND MOSCOW PARTY AND PUBLIC ORGANISATIONS, November 6, 1941
I. THE COURSE OF THE WAR FOR FOUR MONTHS
II. FAILURE OF THE "BLITZKRIEG"
III. REASONS FOR THE TEMPORARY REVERSES OF OUR ARMY
IV. WHO ARE THE "NATIONAL SOCIALISTS"?
V. THE DEFEAT OF THE GERMAN IMPERIALISTS AND THEIR ARMIES IS INEVITABLE
VI. OUR TASKS
SPEECH AT THE RED ARMY PARADE ON THE RED SQUARE Moscow, November 7, 1941
ORDER OF THE DAY NO. 55, February 23, 1942
TELEGRAM TO V. KOMOROV APRIL 12, 1942
ORDER OF THE DAY NO. 95, February 23, 1943
ORDER OF THE DAY NO. 130, MAY 1, 1942
ANSWERS TO ASSOCIATED PRESS MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT'S QUESTIONS, October 3, 1942
SPEECH AT CELEBRATION MEETING OF THE MOSCOW SOVIET OF WORKING PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES AND MOSCOW PARTY AND PUBLIC ORGANISATIONS, November 6, 1942
I. ORGANIZATIONAL WORK IN THE REAR
II. MILITARY OPERATIONS ON THE SOVIET-GERMAN FRONT
III. THE QUESTION OF THE SECOND FRONT IN EUROPE.
IV. FIGHTING ALLIANCE OF THE U.S.S.R., GREAT BRITAIN AND THE U.S.A. AGAINST HITLERITE GERMANY AND HER ALLIES IN EUROPE
V. OUR TASKS
ORDER OF THE DAY NO. 345, November 7, 1942
THE ALLIED CAMPAIGN IN AFRICA, ANSWERS TO ASSOCIATED PRESS MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT, November 13, 1942
ORDER OF THE DAY, January 25, 1943
ORDER OF THE DAY TO THE DON FRONT, February 2, 1943
REPLY TO MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE MEXICAN REPUBLIC AVILA CAMACHO, April 22, 1943
ORDER OF THE DAY, May 1, 1943
SOVIET-POLISH RELATIONS—ANSWERS TO THE TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES CORRESPONDENT
TELEGRAMS TO MR. CHURCHILL AND PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT ON THE NORTH AFRICAN VICTORIES, May 7, 1943
THE DISSOLUTION OF THE COMMUNIST INTERNATIONAL—ANSWER TO REUTER'S CORRESPONDENT, May 28, 1943
STALIN'S REPLY TO THE UNION OF POLISH PATRIOTS, June 17, 1943
MARSHAL STALIN'S THANKS
TO MR. ROOSEVELT
TO GENERAL DE GAULLE AND GENERAL GIRAUD
TO GENERAL CHIANG KAI SHEK
ORDERS OF THE DAY ON THE RED ARMY'S VICTORIES, July 24, 1943
ORDER OF THE DAY, August 5, 1943
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SPEECH AT CELEBRATION MEETING OF THE MOSCOW SOVIET OF WORKING PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES AND MOSCOW PARTY AND PUBLIC ORGANISATIONS, November 6, 1943
I. A YEAR MARKING A RADICAL TURN IN THE COURSE OF THE WAR
II. NATION-WIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE FRONT
III. CONSOLIDATION OF THE ANTI-HITLERITE COALITION AND THE DISINTEGRATION OF THE FASCIST BLOC
ORDER OF THE DAY, NO. 309, November 7, 1943
TO THE COLLECTIVE OF THE CONSTRUCTORS OF THE MOSCOW UNDERGROUND, January 1944
ORDER OF THE DAY, January 12, 1944
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STALIN AND BENES EXCHANGE MESSAGES
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ORDER OF THE DAY, NO. 70, May 1, 1944
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ON THE ALLIED LANDING IN NORTHERN FRANCE
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REPLY TO THE WORKERS OF THE KRAMATORSK, NOVOKRAMATORSK STALIN PLANT OF September, 1944
ORDER OF THE DAY, October 8, 1944
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J. STALIN RECEIVES WARSAW DELEGATION November 5, 1944
ON THE 27TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GREAT OCTOBER SOCIALIST REVOLUTION. November 6, 1944
ORDER OF THE DAY, NO. 220, November 7, 1944
ORDER OF THE DAY, NO. 225, November 19, 1944
ORDER OF THE DAY, November 24, 1944
ORDER OF THE DAY, November 26, 1944
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J. V. Stalin
Radio Broadcast
July 3, 1941
COMRADES, citizens, brothers and sisters, men of our Army and Navy!
My words are addressed to you, dear friends!
The perfidious military attack by Hitlerite Germany on our Fatherland, begun on June 22, is continuing. In spite of the heroic resistance of the Red Army, and although the enemy's finest divisions and finest air force units have already been smashed and have met their doom on the field of battle, the enemy continues to push forward, hurling fresh forces to the front. Hitler's troops have succeeded in capturing Lithuania, a considerable part of Latvia, the western part of Byelorussia and part of Western Ukraine. The fascist aircraft are extending the range of their operations, bombing Murmansk, Orsha, Moghilev, Smolensk, Kiev, Odessa, Sevastopol. Grave danger overhangs our country.
How could it have happened that our glorious Red Army surrendered a number of our cities and districts to the fascist armies? Is it really true that the German-fascist troops are invincible, as the braggart fascist propagandists are ceaselessly blaring forth?
Of course not! History shows that there are no invincible armies and never have been. Napoleon's army was considered invincible, but it was beaten successively by the armies of Russia, England and Germany. Kaiser Wilhelm's German army in the period of the First Imperialist War was also considered invincible, but it was beaten several times by Russian and Anglo-French troops, and was finally smashed by the Anglo-French forces. The same must be said of Hitler's German-fascist army of to-day. This army had not yet met with serious resistance on the continent of Europe. Only on our territory has it met with serious resistance. And if as a result of this resistance the finest divisions of Hitler's German-fascist army have been defeated by our Red Army, this means that it too can be smashed and will be smashed, as were the armies of Napoleon and Wilhelm.
As to part of our territory having nevertheless been seized by the German-fascist troops, this is chiefly due to the fact that the war of fascist Germany against the U.S.S.R. began under conditions that were favourable for the German forces and unfavourable for the Soviet forces. The fact of the matter is that the troops of Germany, a country at war, were already fully mobilized, and the 170 divisions brought up to the Soviet frontiers and hurled by Germany against the U.S.S.R. were in a state of complete readiness, only awaiting the signal to move into action, whereas the Soviet troops had still to effect mobilization and move up to the frontiers. Of no little importance in this respect was the fact that fascist Germany suddenly and treacherously violated the non-aggression pact which she had concluded in 1939 with the U.S.S.R., regardless of the circumstance that she would be regarded as the aggressor by the whole world. Naturally, our peace-loving country, not wishing to take the initiative in breaking the pact, could not resort to perfidy.
It may be asked, how could the Soviet Government have consented to conclude a non-aggression pact with such perfidious people, such fiends as Hitler and Ribbentrop? Was this not an error on the part of the Soviet Government? Of course not! Non-aggression pacts are pacts of peace between two states. It was such a pact that Germany proposed to us in 1939. Could the Soviet Government have declined such a proposal? I think that not a single peace-loving state could decline a peace treaty with a neighbouring state even though the latter were headed by such monsters and cannibals as Hitler and Ribbentrop. But that, of course, only on the one indispensable condition-that this peace treaty did not jeopardize, either directly or indirectly, the territorial integrity, independence and honour of the peace-loving state. As is well known, the non-aggression pact between Germany and the U.S.S.R. was precisely such a pact.
What did we gain by concluding the non-aggression pact with Germany? We secured our country peace for a year and a half and the opportunity of preparing our forces to repulse fascist Germany should she risk an attack on our country despite the pact. This was a definite advantage for us and a disadvantage for fascist Germany. What has fascist Germany gained and what has she lost by perfidiously tearing up the pact and attacking the U.S.S.R.? She has gained a certain advantageous position for her troops for a short period of time, but she has lost politically by exposing herself in the eyes of the entire world as a bloodthirsty aggressor. There can be no doubt that this short-lived military gain for Germany is only an episode, while the tremendous political gain of the U.S.S.R. is a weighty and lasting factor that is bound to forth the basis for the development of outstanding military successes of the Red Army in the war with fascist Germany.
That is why the whole of our valiant Red Army, the whole of our valiant Navy, all the falcons of our Air Force, all the peoples of our country, all the finest men and women of Europe, America and Asia, and, finally, all the finest men and women of Germany—denounce the treacherous acts of the German-fascists, sympathize with the Soviet Government, approve its conduct, and see that ours is a just cause, that the enemy will be defeated, and that we are bound to win.
In consequence of this war which has been forced upon us, our country has come to death grips with its bitterest and most cunning enemy—German fascism. Our troops are fighting heroically against an enemy armed to the teeth with tanks and aircraft. Overcoming numerous difficulties, the Red Army and Red Navy are self-sacrificingly fighting for every inch of Soviet soil. The main forces of the Red Army are coming into action equipped with thousands of tanks and planes. The soldiers of the Red Army are displaying unexampled valour. Our resistance to the enemy is growing in strength and power. Side by side with the Red Army, the entire Soviet people is rising in defence of our native land.
What is required to put an end to the danger imperilling our country and what measures must be taken to smash the enemy?
Above all it is essential that our people, the Soviet people, should appreciate the full immensity of the danger that threatens our country and give up all complacency, casualness and the mentality of peaceful constructive work that was so natural before the war, but which is fatal to-day, when war has radically changed the whole situation. The enemy is cruel and implacable. He is out to seize our lands watered by the sweat of our brows, to seize our grain and oil secured by the labour of our hands. He is out to restore the rule of the landlords, to restore tsarism, to destroy the national culture and the national existence as states of the Russians, Ukrainians, Byelorussians, Lithuanians, Latvians, Esthonians, Uzbeks, Tatars, Moldavians, Georgians, Armenians, Azerbaijanians and the other free peoples of the Soviet Union, to Germanize them, to turn them into the slaves of German princes and barons. Thus the issue is one of life and death for the Soviet State, of life and death for the peoples of the U.S.S.R.; the issue is whether the peoples of the Soviet Union shall be free or fall into slavery. The Soviet people must realize this and abandon all complacency; they must mobilize themselves and reorganize all their work on a new, war-time footing, where there can be no mercy to the enemy.
Further, there must be no room in our ranks for whimperers and cowards, for panic-mongers and deserters; our people must know no fear in the fight and must selflessly join our patriotic war of liberation against the fascist enslavers. Lenin, the great founder of our state, used to say that the chief virtues of Soviet men and women must be courage, valour, fearlessness in struggle, readiness to fight together with the people against the enemies of our country. These splendid virtues of the Bolshevik must become the virtues of millions and millions of the Red Army, of the Red Navy, of all the peoples of the Soviet Union.
All our work must be immediately reorganized on a war footing, everything must be subordinated to the interests of the front and the task of organizing the destruction of the enemy. The peoples of the Soviet Union now see that German fascism is untamable in its savage fury and hatred of our native country, which has ensured all its working people labour in freedom and prosperity. The peoples of the Soviet Union must rise against the enemy and defend their rights and their land.
The Red Army, Red Navy and all citizens of the Soviet Union must defend every inch of Soviet soil, must fight to the last drop of blood for our towns and villages, must display the daring, initiative and mental alertness that are inherent in our people.
We must organize all-round assistance to the Red Army, ensure powerful reinforcements for its ranks and the supply of everything it requires; we must organize the rapid transport of troops and military freight and extensive aid to the wounded.
We must strengthen the Red Army's rear, subordinating all our work to this end; all our industries must be got to work with greater intensity, to produce more rifles, machine-guns, guns, cartridges, shells, planes; we must organize the guarding of factories, power stations, telephonic and telegraphic communications, and arrange effective air-raid protection in all localities.
We must wage a ruthless fight against all disorganizers of the rear, deserters, panic-mongers and rumour-mongers; we must exterminate spies, sabotage agents and enemy parachutists, rendering rapid aid in all this to our extermination battalions. We must bear in mind that the enemy is crafty, unscrupulous, experienced in deception and the dissemination of false rumours. We must reckon with all this and not fall victims to stratagem. All who by their panic-mongering and cowardice hinder the work of defence, no matter who they may be, must be immediately haled before a military tribunal.
In case of a forced retreat of Red Army units, all rolling stock must be evacuated, the enemy must not be left a single engine, a single railway car, not a single pound of grain or gallon of fuel. The collective farmers must drive off all their cattle and turn over their grain to the safe keeping of the state authorities for transportation to the rear. All valuable property, including non-ferrous metals, grain and fuel that cannot be withdrawn must be destroyed without fail.
In areas occupied by the enemy, guerilla units, mounted and on loot, must be formed; sabotage groups must be organized to combat enemy units, to foment guerilla warfare everywhere, blow up bridges and roads, damage telephone and telegraph lines, set fire to forests, stores and transports. In occupied regions conditions must be made unbearable for the enemy and all his accomplices. They must be hounded and annihilated at every step, and all their measures frustrated.
The war with fascist Germany cannot be considered an ordinary war. It is not only a war between two armies, it is also a great war of the entire Soviet people against the German-fascist armies. The aim of this national patriotic war in defence of our country against the fascist oppressors is not only to eliminate the danger hanging over our country, but also to aid all the European peoples groaning under the yoke of German fascism. In this war of liberation we shall not be alone. In this great war we shall have true allies in the peoples of Europe and America, including the German people which is enslaved by the Hitlerite misrulers. Our war for the freedom of our country will merge with the struggle of the peoples of Europe and America for their independence, for democratic liberties. It will be a united front of the peoples standing for freedom and against enslavement and threats of enslavement by Hitler's fascist armies. In this connection the historic utterance of the British Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, regarding aid to the Soviet Union, and the declaration of the United States Government signifying readiness to render aid to our country, which can only evoke a feeling of gratitude in the hearts of the peoples of the Soviet Union, are fully comprehensible and symptomatic.
Comrades, our forces are numberless. The overweening enemy will soon learn this to his cost. Side by side with the Red Army many thousands of workers, collective farmers and intellectuals are rising to fight the enemy aggressor. The masses of our people will rise up in their millions. The working people of Moscow and Leningrad have already begun to form huge People's Guards in support of the Red Army. Such People's Guards must be raised in every city which is in danger of enemy invasion; all the working people must be roused to defend with their lives their freedom, their honour and their country in this patriotic war against German fascism.
In order to ensure the rapid mobilization of all the forces of the peoples of the U.S.S.R. and to repulse the enemy who has treacherously attacked our country, a State Committee of Defence has been formed and the entire state authority has now been vested in it. The State Committee of Defence has entered on the performance of its functions and calls upon all our people to rally around the Party of Lenin and Stalin and around the Soviet Government, so as to render self sacrificing support to the Red Army and Red Navy, to exterminate the enemy and secure victory.
All our forces for the support of our heroic Red Army and our glorious Red Navy!
All the forces of the people for the destruction of the enemy!
Forward to victory!
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Speech to State Committee for Defence, Moscow, Kremlin
October 19, 1941
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Information is hereby given that the defence of the capital on the lines of defence situated at 100-120 kilometres to the west of Moscow is entrusted to Army General, Comrade J-ukov commanding the West Front; Lieutenant General, Comrade Artemiev, Chief of Garrison of the city of Moscow, is instructed to defend the boundaries of Moscow.
In order to ensure the defence of the Moscow frontier, to reinforce the back lines of troops defending Moscow, and also in order to repress the underhand manoeuvres of spies, saboteurs and other agents of German fascism, the State Committee for defence resolves :<
1. To proclaim, as from 20 October, 1941, a state of siege on the city of Moscow and its adjacent regions.
2. To prohibit thoroughfare in the streets, equally for persons as for vehicles, from midnight until 05.00 hours, with the exception of persons or transport holding a special pass issued by the commanding officer of the city in the case of alert, the evacuation of the population and of vehicles must take place according to the ruling established by the DCA of Moscow and published in the press.
3. To commit to the commanding officer of the city of Moscow, Major General, Comrade Sinilov, the ensurance of the most strict order in the city and in neighbouring regions, and to this effect to put at his disposal troops of the Interior Guard of the Commissariat of the People of the Interior, the Militia and some detachments of voluntary workers.
4. To immediately summon before the Military Tribunal those infringing law and order, and to shoot on. sight provocateurs, spies and other enemies intent upon disturbing order.
5. The State Committee for Defence exhorts all workers of the capital to observe order and peace and to give all their assistance to the Red Array which defends Moscow.
J. STALIN
President of the State Committee for Defence.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Speech at Celebration Meeting
of the Moscow Soviet
of Working People's Deputies
and Moscow Party and Public Organizations
November 6, 1941
COMRADES, twenty-four years have elapsed since the victory of the October Socialist Revolution and the establishment of the Soviet system in our country. We stand now on the threshold of the next, the twenty-fifth, year of existence of the Soviet system.
Usually at meetings in celebration of the anniversaries of the October Revolution the results of our successes in the realm of peaceful construction for the past year are summed up. We have really the possibility to sum up such results as our successes in the realm of peaceful construction are growing not only from year to year, but from month to month. What these successes are and how great they are is known to all, both friends and foes.
But this past year is not only a year of peaceful construction. It is also a year of war with the German invaders who perfidiously attacked our peace-loving country. Only during the first six months of the past year were we able to continue our peaceful, constructive work. In the second half of the year more than four months were spent under conditions of a fierce war with the German imperialists. The war has thus become a turning-point in the development of our country for the last year. The war has considerably curtailed and, in some branches, altogether stopped, our peaceful constructive work. It has forced us to reorganize all our work on a war footing. It has converted our country into a united and all-embracing rear serving the front, our Red Army and our Navy.
The period of peaceful construction has ended. The period of the war of liberation from the German invaders has begun.
It is therefore quite appropriate to sum up the results of the war for the second half of the past year, or rather for the period of somewhat over four months of the second half of the year, as well as the tasks confronting us in this war of liberation.
The Course of the War for Four Months
I have already said in my speech at the beginning of the war that the war had created a dangerous threat to our country, that a serious danger was looming over our country, that we must understand and realize this danger and remodel our work on a war-time basis. Now, after four months of war, I must emphasize that this danger has not only not grown less, but, on the contrary, has even increased. The enemy has seized a large part of the Ukraine, Byelorussia, Moldavia Lithuania, Latvia, Esthonia and a number of other regions, has forced his way into the Donetz Basin, hangs like a black cloud over Leningrad and is threatening our glorious capital, Moscow. The German-fascist invaders are plundering our country, destroying the towns and villages created by the labours of the workers, peasants and intellectuals. The Hitlerite hordes are murdering and outraging the peaceful inhabitants of our country, having no mercy on women, children or old people. Our brothers in the regions of our country seized by the Germans are groaning under the yoke of the German oppressors.
Streams of enemy blood have been spilt by the men of our Army and Navy, who are defending the honour and freedom of our Motherland, courageously beating off the attacks of the bestial enemy and displaying examples of valour and heroism. But the enemy stops at no sacrifice, he does not care one iota for the blood of his soldiers, he throws into action more and more detachments to replace those which have been shattered, and is straining all his efforts to capture Leningrad and Moscow before the advent of winter, for he knows that winter bodes him no good.
In four months of war we have lost 350,000 in killed, and 378,000 missing, and our wounded number 1,020,000. In the same period the enemy has in killed, wounded and prisoners lost more than four and a half million men.
There can be no doubt that as a result of four months of war Germany, whose reserves of man-power are already being exhausted, has been considerably more weakened than the Soviet Union, whose reserves are only now being mobilized to the full.
Failure of the "Blitzkrieg"
In launching their attack on our country the German-fascist invaders thought that they would certainly be able to "finish off" the Soviet Union in one and a half or two months, and in this short period would succeed in reaching the Urals. It must be said that the Germans did not conceal this plan of a "lightning" victory. On the contrary, they advertised it in every possible way. The facts, however, have demonstrated the utter irresponsibility and groundlessness of this "lightning" plan. Now this mad plan must be regarded as having finally failed. (Applause.)
How is it to be explained that the "blitzkrieg" which succeeded in Western Europe has failed and collapsed in the East?
What did the German-fascist strategists count on when they asserted that they would finish off the Soviet Union in two months and reach the Urals in this short period?
They seriously calculated in the first place on creating a general coalition against the U.S.S.R., on enlisting Great Britain and the U.S.A. in this coalition, first having frightened the ruling circles of these countries with the spectre of revolution, and thus completely isolating our country from the other Powers. The Germans knew that their policy of playing on the contradictions between the classes of individual states, and between these states and the Soviet country, had already produced results in France, the rulers of which, having let themselves be frightened by the spectre of revolution, in their fright laid their country at the feet of Hitter and renounced all resistance. The German-fascist strategists thought that the same would occur in Great Britain and the United States. The notorious Hess was in fact sent to England by the German-fascists precisely in order to persuade the English politicians to join in the general crusade against the U.S.S.R. But the Germans gravely miscalculated. (Applause.) Great Britain and the United States, despite the efforts of Hess, not only did not join in the campaign of the German-fascist invaders against the U.S.S.R., but, on the contrary, proved to be in one camp with the U.S.S.R. against Hitlerite Germany. The U.S.S.R. not only was not isolated, but, on the contrary, it acquired new allies in the shape of Great Britain, the United States and other countries occupied by the Germans. It turned out that the German policy of playing on contradictions and of intimidation by means of the spectre of revolution has been exhausted and is no longer suitable in the new situation. And not only is it unsuitable, but it is even fraught with grave danger for the German invaders, because in the new conditions of the war it leads to diametrically opposite results.
The Germans counted, secondly, on the instability of the Soviet system, and the unreliability of the Soviet rear, reckoning that after the first serious blow and the first setbacks of the Red Army, conflicts would break out between the workers and peasants, dissension would begin between the peoples of the U.S.S.R., uprisings would occur, and the country would disintegrate into its component parts—which would facilitate the advance of the German invaders right up to the Urals. But here, also, the Germans gravely miscalculated. The setbacks of the Red Army not only did not weaken but, on the contrary, strengthened even further the alliance of the workers and peasants, as well as the friendship of the peoples of the U.S.S.R. (Applause.) Moreover, they converted the family of peoples of the U.S.S.R. into a single and unshakable camp, selflessly supporting its Red Army and its Red Navy. Never before has the Soviet rear been so firm as it is to-day. (Loud applause.) It is quite probable that any other State, having suffered such territorial losses as we have now, would not have withstood the test and would have fallen into decline. If the Soviet system has so successfully passed through this trial and even strengthened its rear, then this means that the Soviet system is now the most stable one. (Loud applause.)
Finally, the German invaders counted on the weakness of the Red Army and Red Navy, believing that the German army and German navy would succeed at the very first blow in overwhelming and dispersing our army and navy and opening the way for an unopposed advance into the depths of our country. But here, too, the Germans gravely miscalculated, overrating their own strength and underrating our army and navy. Of course, our army and navy are still young, they have been fighting for four months in all, they have not yet succeeded in becoming thoroughly seasoned, whereas they are confronted by the seasoned army and navy of the Germans, who have already been waging war for two years. But, in the first place, the morale of our army is higher than that of the Germans, because it is defending its native land from alien invaders and believes in the justice of its cause, whereas the German army is waging an aggressive war and is plundering a foreign country, having no possibility of believing even for a moment in the justice of its vile cause. There can be no doubt that the idea of defending one's own native land—and it is in the name of this that our people are fighting—is bound to create, and actually is creating in our army, heroes who are cementing the Red Army; whereas the idea of seizing and plundering a foreign country—and it is in the name of this that the Germans are in fact waging war—is bound to breed, and actually is breeding in the German army, professional plunderers, devoid of all moral principles and corrupting the German army. Secondly, advancing into the depths of our country, the German army is moving farther and farther away from its own German rear, is forced to operate in hostile surroundings, is forced to create a new rear in an alien country, a rear which is at the same time being disrupted by our guerillas—all of which is radically disorganizing the supply of the German army, forcing it to fear its own rear, and destroying its faith in the stability of its own position; whereas our army is operating on its own native surroundings, enjoys the constant support of its own rear, has assured supplies of men, munitions and food, and has a profound faith in its rear. That is why our army has proved to be stronger than the Germans anticipated and the German army weaker than might have been expected judging by the boastful self-advertisement of the German invaders. The defence of Leningrad and Moscow, where our divisions lately wiped out about a score and a half of seasoned German divisions, shows that in the fire of our patriotic war there are being forged, and have already been forged, new Soviet fighters and commanders, airmen, artillerymen, mortar crews, tankmen, infantrymen and sailors, who to-morrow will become a deadly menace to the German army. (Loud applause.)
There is no doubt that all these circumstances taken together predetermined the inevitable failure of the "blitzkrieg" in the East.
Reasons for the Temporary Reverses of our Army
All that, of course, is true. But it is likewise true that alongside these favourable factors there are a number of factors unfavourable to the Red Army, as a result of which our army is suffering temporary reverses, is obliged to retreat and to surrender a number of regions of our country to the enemy.
What are these unfavourable factors? What are the reasons for the temporary military reverses of the Red Army?
One of the reasons for the reverses of the Red Army is the absence of a second front in Europe against the German-fascist troops. The fact of the matter is that at the present time there are still no armies of Great Britain or the United States of America on the European continent to wage war against the German-fascist troops, with the result that the Germans are not compelled to dissipate their forces and to wage war on two fronts, in the West and in the East. Well, the effect of this is that the Germans, considering their rear in the West secure, are able to move all their troops and the troops of their allies in Europe against our country. The situation at present is such that our country is carrying on the war of liberation single-handed, without any military assistance, against the combined forces of Germans, Finns, Rumanians, Italians and Hungarians. The Germans preen themselves on their temporary successes and are lavish in the praises of their army, claiming that it can always defeat the Red Army in single combat. But the Germans' claims are empty boasting, for it is incomprehensible why in that case the Germans have resorted to the aid of the Finns, Rumanians, Italians and Hungarians against the Red Army, which is fighting absolutely single-handed without any military help from outside. There is no doubt that the absence of a second front in Europe against the Germans considerably eases the position of the German army. But neither can there be any doubt that the appearance of a second front on the European continent—and it must unquestionably appear in the near future (loud applause)—will essentially ease the situation of our army to the detriment of the German army.
The other reason for the temporary reverses of our army is our lack of an adequate number of tanks and, partly, of aircraft. In modern warfare it is very difficult for infantry to fight without tanks and without adequate aircraft protection. Our aviation is superior in quality to that of the Germans, and our valiant airmen have covered themselves with glory as fearless fighters. (Applause.) But we still have fewer aircraft than the Germans. Our tanks are superior in quality to the German tanks, and our glorious tankmen and artillerymen have more than once put the vaunted troops of the Germans, with their numerous tanks, to flight. (Applause.) But we still have several times fewer tanks than the Germans. Therein lies the secret of the temporary successes of the German army. It cannot be said that our tank-building industry is working badly and supplying our front with few tanks. No, it is working very well and is producing quite a number of excellent tanks. But the Germans are producing considerably more tanks, for they now have at their disposal not only their own tank-building industry, but also the industry of Czechoslovakia, Belgium, Holland and France. Had it not been for this circumstance, the Red Army would long ago have smashed the German army, which does not go into battle without tanks and cannot stand up to the blows of our troops if it has not a superiority in tanks. (Applause.)
There is only one way of nullifying the Germans' superiority in tanks and thus radically improving the position of our army. This way is, not only to increase the output of tanks in our country several times over, but also sharply to increase the production of anti-tank aircraft, anti-tank riffles and guns, and anti-tank grenades and mortars, and to construct more anti-tank trenches and every other kind of anti-tank obstacle.
Herein lies our present task.
We can accomplish this task, and we must accomplish it at all costs!
Who are the "National Socialists"?
In our country the German invaders, i.e., the Hitlerites, are usually called fascists. The Hitlerites, it appears, consider this wrong and obstinately continue to call themselves "National Socialists." Hence the Germans want to assure us that the Hitlerite party, the party of the German invaders, which is plundering Europe and has organized the villainous attack on our socialist State, is a socialist party. Is this possible? What can there be in common between socialism and the bestial Hitlerite invaders who are plundering and oppressing the nations of Europe?
Can the Hitlerites be regarded as nationalists? No, they cannot. Actually, the Hitlerites are now not nationalists but imperialists. As long as the Hitlerites were engaged in assembling the German lands and reuniting the Rhine district, Austria, etc., it was possible with a certain amount of foundation to call them nationalists. But after they seized foreign territories and enslaved European nations-the Czechs, Slovaks, Poles, Norwegians, Danes, Dutch, Belgians, French, Serbs, Greeks, Ukrainians, Byelorussians, the inhabitants of the Baltic countries, etc.—and began to reach out for world domination, the Hitlerite party ceased to be a nationalist party, because from that moment it became an imperialist party, a party of annexation and oppression.
The Hitlerite party is a party of imperialists, and the most rapacious and predatory imperialists among all the imperialists of the world.
Can the Hitlerites be regarded as socialists? No, they cannot. Actually, the Hitlerites are the sworn enemies of socialism, arrant reactionaries and Black-Hundreds who have robbed the working class and the peoples of Europe of the most elementary democratic liberties. In order to cover up their reactionary, Black-Hundred essence, the Hitlerites denounce the internal regimes of Britain and America as plutocratic regimes. But in Britain and the United States there are elementary democratic liberties, there exist trade unions of workers and employees, there exist workers' parties, there exist parliaments; whereas in Germany, under the Hitler regime, all these institutions have been destroyed. One only needs to compare these two sets of facts to perceive the reactionary nature of the Hitler regime and the utter hypocrisy of the German-fascist pratings about a plutocratic regime in Britain and in America. In point of fact the Hitler regime is a copy of that reactionary regime which existed in Russia under tsardom. It is well known that the Hitlerites suppress the rights of the workers, the rights of the intellectuals and the rights of nations as readily as the tsarist regime suppressed them, and that they organize mediæval Jewish pogroms as readily as the tsarist regime organized them.
The Hitlerite party is a party of enemies of democratic liberties, a party of mediæval reaction and Black-Hundred pogroms.
And if these brazen imperialists and arrant reactionaries still continue to masquerade in the togas of "nationalists" and "socialists," they do this in order to deceive the people, to fool the simpletons and to hide under the flag of "nationalism" and "socialism" their piratical and imperialist nature.
Crows decked in peacocks' feathers. . . . But no matter how much crows may deck themselves in peacocks' feathers they will not cease to be crows.
"We must at all costs," says Hitler, "strive to achieve the German conquest of the world. If we want to create our great German empire we must first of all oust and exterminate the Slav peoples—the Russians, Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, Bulgarians, Ukrainians, Byelorussians. There are no reasons why this should not be done."
"Man," says Hitler, "is sinful from birth and can be ruled only with the help of force. In dealing with him all methods are permissible. When policy demands it one must lie, betray and even kill."
"Kill everyone who is against us," says Göring. "Kill, kill!—It is not you who will be held responsible, but I. Therefore, kill!"
"I emancipate man," says Hitler, "from the humiliating chimera which is called conscience. Conscience, like education, mutilates man. I have the advantage of not being restrained by any considerations of a theoretical or moral nature."
In one of the orders of the German command, dated September 25, to the 489th infantry regiment, and found on a killed German noncommissioned officer, it is stated:
"I order you to open fire on every Russian as soon as he appears at a distance of 600 metres. The Russian must learn that he is faced by a resolute foe from whom he cannot expect any mercy."
In one of the declarations of the German command to the soldiers, found on the dead body of Lieutenant Gustav Ziegel, a native of Frankfort-on-Main, it is stated:
"You have no heart or nerves; they are not needed in war. Eradicate every trace of pity and sympathy from your heart-kill every Russian, every Soviet person. Do not stop even if before you stands an old man or a woman, girl or boy, kill! By this you will save yourselves from destruction, ensure the future of your family and win eternal glory."
There you have the programme and instructions of the leaders of the Hitlerite party and of the Hitlerite command, the programme and instructions of men who have lost all semblance of human beings and have sunk to the level of wild beasts.
And these men, bereft of conscience and honour, these men with the morals of beasts, have the insolence to call for the extermination of the great Russian nation, the nation of Plekhanov and Lenin, Belinsky and Chernyshevsky, Pushkin and Tolstoy, Glinka and Chaikovsky, Gorky and Chekhov, Sechenov and Pavlov, Repin and Surikov, Suvorov and Kutuzov!
The German invaders want a war of extermination with the peoples of the U.S.S.R. Well, if the Germans want to have a war of extermination, they will get it. (Loud and prolonged applause.)
From now on our task, the task of the peoples of the U.S.S.R., the task of the fighters, commanders and the political workers of our Army and our Navy will be to exterminate every single German who has set his invading foot on the territory of our Fatherland. (Loud applause. "Hear, hear!" Cheers.)
No mercy for the German invaders!
Death to the German invaders! (Loud applause.)
The Defeat of the German Imperialists and their Armies is Inevitable
Already the very moral degradation of the German invaders, who have lost all human semblance, and long ago sunk to the level of wild beasts, this one circumstance is already evidence of the fact that they have doomed themselves to inevitable destruction.
But the inevitable destruction of the Hitlerite invaders and their armies is not determined by moral factors alone.
There exist three other basic factors, which are operating more powerfully with each day that passes, and which are bound to lead in the near future to the inevitable defeat of Hitler's bandit imperialism. (Applause.)
First, there is the instability of the European rear of imperialist Germany, the instability of the "New Order" in Europe. The German invaders have enslaved the peoples of the European continent—from France to the Soviet Baltic, from Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Holland and Soviet Byelorussia to the Balkans and the Soviet Ukraine; they have robbed them of their elementary democratic liberties; they have deprived them of the right to dispose of their own destinies; have taken away their bread, meat and raw materials; they have turned them into their slaves; they have crucified the Poles, Czechs, Serbs, and decided that, having achieved domination in Europe, they can now use it as a basis for building up Germany's world domination. That is what they call the "New Order in Europe." But what is this "basis," what is this "New Order"? Only the conceited Hitlerite fools fail to see that the "New Order" in Europe and the infamous "basis" of this order represent a volcano which is ready to erupt at any moment and overwhelm the German imperialist house of cards. They refer to Napoleon, assuring us that Hitler is acting like Napoleon, and that he resembles Napoleon in everything. In the first place, however, one should not forget Napoleon's fate. And, secondly, Hitler resembles Napoleon no more titian a kitten resembles a lion. (Laughter, loud applause.) For Napoleon fought against the forces of reaction and relied on progressive forces, whereas Hitler, on the contrary, relies on the forces of reaction and is fighting the progressive forces. Only the Hitlerite fools in Berlin fail to realize that the enslaved peoples of Europe will fight and revolt against Hitler's tyranny. Who can doubt that the U.S.S.R., Great Britain and the U.S.A. will afford full support to the peoples of Europe in their struggle for liberation against Hitler's tyranny? (Applause.)
Secondly, there is the instability of the German rear of the Hitlerite invaders. So long as the Hitlerites were engaged in the assembling of Germany, which had been split up by the Versailles Treaty, they could enjoy the support of the German people, who were inspired by the ideal of the restoration of Germany. But after this aim had been achieved and the Hitlerites entered the road of imperialism, of the seizure of foreign lands and the subjugation of foreign nations, converting the peoples of Europe and the peoples of the U.S.S.R. into sworn enemies of present-day Germany, a profound change of feeling took place in the German people—against the continuation of the war, in favour of the termination of the war. Over two years of sanguinary war, the end of which is not yet in sight; the millions of human lives sacrificed; starvation; impoverishment; epidemics; an atmosphere of hostility to the Germans all around them; Hitler's stupid policy, which has turned the peoples of the U.S.S.R. into the sworn enemies of present-day Germany—all this could not but set the German people against the unnecessary and ruinous war. Only the Hitlerite fools fail to understand that not only the European rear but also the German rear of the German troops represents a volcano which is ready to erupt and overwhelm the Hitlerite adventurers.
There is, finally, the coalition of the U.S.S.R., Great Britain and the United States of America against the German-fascist imperialists. It is a fact that Great Britain, the United States of America and the Soviet Union have united into a single camp, which has set itself the aim of smashing the Hitlerite imperialists and their predatory armies. The present war is a war of engines. The war will be won by the side that has an overwhelming preponderance in engine production. If we aggregate the production of engines in the U.S.A., Great Britain and the U.S.S.R., then we get a superiority of at least three times in comparison with Germany. That is one of the grounds for the inevitable doom of Hitler's robber imperialism.
The recent three-power conference in Moscow, attended by Lord Beaverbrook as representative of Great Britain and by Mr. Harriman as representative of the United States, decided systematically to help our country with tanks and aircraft. As is well known, we have already begun to receive tanks and planes on the basis of that decision. Even prior to that, England arranged for supplies to our country of such materials in short supply as aluminium, lead, tin, nickel and rubber. If to this we add the fact that a few days ago the United States of America decided to grant the Soviet Union a loan of 1,000,000,000 dollars we can say with certainty that the coalition of the United States of America, Great Britain and the U.S.S.R. is a reality (loud applause), which is growing and will continue to grow to the benefit of our common cause of liberation.
Such are the factors which determine the inevitable doom of German-fascist imperialism.
Our Tasks
Lenin distinguished between two kinds of wars—predatory, and therefore, unjust wars, and wars of liberation—just wars.
The Germans are now waging a predatory war, an unjust war, for the purpose of seizing foreign territory and subjugating foreign peoples. That is why all honest people must rise against the German invaders as their enemies.
In contradistinction to Hitlerite Germany, the Soviet Union and its allies are waging a war of liberation, a just war, for the purpose of liberating the enslaved peoples of Europe and the U.S.S.R. from Hitler's tyranny. That is why all honest people must support the armies of the U.S.S.R., Great Britain and the other allies, as armies of liberation.
We have not, and cannot have, such war aims as the seizure of foreign territories and the subjugation of foreign peoples—whether it be the peoples and territories of Europe or the peoples and territories of Asia, including Iran. Our first aim is to liberate our territories and our peoples from the German-fascist yoke.
We have not, and cannot have, any such war aims as that of imposing our will and our regime upon the Slavonic or other enslaved nations of Europe, who are expecting our help. Our aim is to help these nations in their struggle for liberation against Hitler's tyranny and then to leave it to them quite freely to organize their life on their lands as they think fit. No interference in the internal affairs of other nations!
But if these aims are to be achieved, we must crush the military might of the German invaders, we must destroy, to the last man, the German forces of occupation who have intruded into our country for the purpose of enslaving it. (Loud and prolonged applause.)
But for this it is necessary that our Army and Navy receive active and effective support from our whole country, that all our workers and office employees, men and women, work untiringly in the factories and supply the front with ever-increasing quantities of tanks, antitank rifles and guns, aircraft, artillery, trench mortars, machine-guns, rifles and ammunition; that our collective farmers, men and women, work untiringly in their fields and supply the front and the country with ever-greater quantities of bread, meat, raw materials for industry; that our whole country and all the peoples of the U.S.S.R. organize into a single fighting camp, waging, together with our Army and Navy, the great war of liberation for the honour and freedom of our Motherland, for the rout of the German armies. (Loud applause.)
This is now our task.
We can and we must accomplish this task.
Only when we have accomplished this task and routed the German invaders can we achieve a lasting and just peace.
For the complete rout of the German invaders! (Loud applause.) For the liberation of all the oppressed peoples groaning under the yoke of Hitler's tyranny! (Loud applause.)
Long live the unshakable friendship of the peoples of the Soviet Union! (Loud applause.)
Long live our Red Army and our Red Navy! (Loud applause.)
Long live our glorious Motherland! (Loud applause.)
Our cause is just—victory will be ours! (Loud applause. All rise. Shouts: "Cheers for the great Stalin!" "Long live Comrade Stalin!" Prolonged applause. The Internationale is sung.)
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Speech at the Red Army Parade
on the Red Square, Moscow
November 7, 1941
COMRADES, men of the Red Army and Red Navy, commanders and political instructors, working men and working women, collective farmers-men and women, workers in the intellectual professions, brothers and sisters in the rear of our enemy who have temporarily fallen under the yoke of the German brigands, and our valiant men and women guerillas who are destroying the rear of the German invaders!
On behalf of the Soviet Government and our Bolshevik Party I am greeting you and congratulating you on the twenty-fourth anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution.
Comrades, it is in strenuous circumstances that we are to-day celebrating the twenty-fourth anniversary of the October Revolution. The perfidious attack of the German brigands and the war which has been forced upon us have created a threat to our country. We have temporarily lost a number of regions, the enemy has appeared at the gates of Leningrad and Moscow. The enemy reckoned that after the very first blow our army would be dispersed, and our country would be forced to her knees. But the enemy gravely miscalculated. In spite of temporary reverses, our Army and Navy are heroically repulsing the enemy's attacks along the entire front and inflicting heavy losses upon him, while our country—our entire country—has organized itself into one fighting camp in order, together with our Army and our Navy, to encompass the rout of the German invaders.
There were times when our country was in a still more difficult position. Remember the year 1918, when we celebrated the first anniversary of the October Revolution. Three-quarters of our country was at that time in the hands of foreign interventionists. The Ukraine, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Urals, Siberia and the Far East were temporarily lost to us. We had no allies, we had no Red Army—we had only just begun to create it; there was a shortage of food, of armaments, of clothing for the Army. Fourteen states were pressing against our country. But we did not become despondent, we did not lose heart. In the fire of war we forged the Red Army and converted our country into a military camp. The spirit of the great Lenin animated us at that time for the war against the interventionists. And what happened? We routed the interventionists, recovered all our lost territory, and achieved victory.
To-day the position of our country is far better than twenty-three years ago. Our country is now many times richer than it was twenty-three years ago as regards industry, food and raw materials. We now have allies, who together with us are maintaining a united front against the German invaders. We now enjoy the sympathy and support of all the nations of Europe who have fallen under the yoke of Hitler's tyranny. We now have a splendid Army and a splendid Navy, who are defending with their lives the liberty and independence of our country. We experience no serious shortage of either food, or armaments or army clothing. Our entire country, all the peoples of our country, support our Army and our Navy, helping them to smash the invading hordes of German fascists. Our reserves of man-power are inexhaustible. The spirit of the great Lenin and his victorious banner animate us now in this patriotic war just as they did twenty-three years ago.
Can there be any doubt that we can, and are bound to, defeat the German invaders?
The enemy is not so strong as some frightened little intellectuals picture him. The devil is not so terrible as he is painted. Who can deny that our Red Army has more than once put the vaunted German troops to panic flight? If one judges, not by the boastful assertions of the German propagandists, but by the actual position of Germany, it will not be difficult to understand that the German-fascist invaders are facing disaster. Hunger and impoverishment reign in Germany to-day; in four months of war Germany has lost four and a half million men; Germany is bleeding, her reserves of man-power are giving out, the spirit of indignation is spreading not only among the peoples of Europe who have fallen under the yoke of the German invaders but also among the German people themselves, who see no end to war. The German invaders are straining their last efforts. There is no doubt that Germany cannot sustain such a strain for long. Another few months, another half-year, perhaps another year, and Hitlerite Germany must burst under the pressure of her crimes.
Comrades, men of the Red Army and Red Navy, commanders and political instructors, men and women guerillas, the whole world is looking to you as the force capable of destroying the plundering hordes of German invaders. The enslaved peoples of Europe who have fallen under the yoke of the German invaders look to you as their liberators. A great liberating mission has fallen to your lot. Be worthy of this mission! The war you are waging is a war of liberation, a just war. Let the manly images of our great ancestors—Alexander Nevsky, Dimitry Donskoy, Kuzma Minin, Dimitry Pozharsky, Alexander Suvorov and Mikhail Kutuzov—inspire you in this war! May the victorious banner of the great Lenin be your lodestar!
For the complete destruction of the German invaders!
Death to the German invaders!
Long live our glorious Motherland, her liberty and her independence!
Under the banner of Lenin, forward to victory!
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day, No. 55
February 23, 1942
COMRADES, men of the Red Army and Red Navy, commanders and political workers, men and women guerillas!
The peoples of our country meet the twenty-fourth anniversary of the Red Army in the stern days of a patriotic war against fascist Germany, which is brazenly and despicably encroaching upon the life and freedom of our Motherland. Along the whole length of the huge front, which stretches from the Arctic Ocean to the Black Sea, the men of the Red Army and Navy are waging a bitter fight to drive the German-fascist invaders from our country and safeguard the honour and independence of our Motherland.
This is not the first time that the Red Army has had to defend our native land against enemy attack. The Red Army was created twenty-four years ago to combat the troops of the foreign interventionist invaders who were endeavouring to dismember our country and destroy her independence. Young detachments of the Red Army, which entered war for the first time, routed the German invaders at Pskov and Narva on February 23, 1918. For this very reason February 23, 1918, was proclaimed the day of the birth of the Red Army. Since then the Red Army grew and gained strength in the struggle with the foreign interventionist invaders. It successfully defended our country in the battles with the German invaders in 1918 and drove them beyond the confines of the Ukraine and Byelorussia. It successfully defended our country in the battles with the foreign troops of the Entente in 1919-1921 and drove them too beyond the confines of our country.
The rout of the foreign interventionist invaders during the Civil War secured the peoples of the Soviet Union lasting peace and the possibility of peaceful construction. During those two decades of peaceful construction there sprang up in our country socialist industry and collective farming; science and culture flourished and the bonds of friendship between the peoples of our country strengthened. But the Soviet people never forgot the possibility of a fresh enemy attack on our Motherland. Therefore, simultaneously with the development of industry and agriculture, science and culture, the military might of the Soviet Union was also growing. Certain lovers of foreign lands have already felt this might on their own hides. The much-vaunted German-fascist army is feeling it now.
Eight months ago fascist Germany perfidiously attacked our country, grossly and basely violating the non-aggression pact. The enemy figured that after the very first blow the Red Army would be routed and would lose its ability to resist. But the enemy gravely miscalculated. He did not take into consideration the strength of the Red Army, did not take into consideration the solidity of the Soviet rear, did not take into consideration the will of the peoples of our country to achieve victory, did not take into consideration the unreliability of the European rear of fascist Germany, did not take into consideration, finally, the internal weakness of fascist Germany and its army.
In the first months of the war, as a result of the unexpectedness and suddenness of the German-fascist attack, the Red Army was forced to retreat and evacuate part of Soviet territory. But while retreating the Red Army wore down the forces of the enemy and inflicted severe blows upon him. Neither the men of the Red Army nor the peoples of our country doubted that this retreat was but temporary, that the enemy would be halted and then defeated.
In the course of the war the Red Army accumulated fresh vital strength, was reinforced with men and equipment, and received fresh reserve divisions to aid it. And the time came when the Red Army was able to pass to the offensive in the main sectors of the huge front. Within a short time the Red Army dealt the German-fascist troops one blow after another, at Rostov-on-Don and Tikhvin, in the Crimea and at Moscow. In violent battles near Moscow the Red Army routed the German-fascist troops which had threatened to surround the Soviet capital. The Red Army threw back the enemy from Moscow and is still continuing to press him westward. The Moscow and Tula Regions as well as dozens of towns and hundreds of villages of other regions temporarily captured by the enemy have been completely freed from the German invaders.
The Germans now no longer have that military advantage which they possessed during the first months of the war as a result of their treacherous and sudden attack. The momentum of surprise and unexpectedness, as a reserve of the German-fascist troops, has been completely spent. This has put an end to that inequality in war conditions which was created by the suddenness of the German-fascist attack. From now on the outcome of the war will be decided, not by such an adventitious element as surprise, but by permanently operating factors: stability of the rear, morale of the army, quantity and quality of divisions, equipment of the army, organizing ability of the commanding personnel of the army. At this point one circumstance ought to be noted: no sooner had the momentum of suddenness disappeared from the German arsenal than the German-fascist army was confronted with catastrophe.
The German fascists consider their army invincible, asserting that in single combat it would unquestionably smash the Red Army. At the present time the Red Army and the German-fascist army are fighting in single combat. More than that, the German-fascist army has the direct support at the front of Italian, Rumanian and Finnish troops. The Red Army, so far, has no similar support.
And what do we find? The vaunted German army is suffering defeat while the Red Army has major successes to its credit. Under the powerful blows of the Red Army the German troops are reeling back to the West, sustaining huge losses in men and equipment. They hold on to every line of defence, trying to defer the day of their rout. But the enemy's efforts are in vain. The initiative is now in our hands and the efforts of Hitler's loose and rusty war machine cannot check the pressure of the Red Army. The day is not far distant when the Red Army, by its powerful blows, will thrust back the brutal enemy from Leningrad and sweep clear of him the towns and villages of Byelorussia and the Ukraine, of Lithuania and Latvia, Esthonia and Karelia, will free the Soviet Crimea, and the red banners will again fly victoriously over the entire Soviet land.
It would, however, be unpardonable shortsightedness to rest content with the successes achieved and to think that the German troops have already been done for. This would be empty boasting and conceit unworthy of Soviet people. It should not be forgotten that there are still many difficulties ahead. The enemy is suffering defeat, but he is not yet routed, still less is he finished off. The enemy is still strong. He will exert his last forces in order to attain success. And the more he suffers defeat, the more brutal he will become. Therefore it is essential that in our country the training of reserves in aid of the front should not be relaxed for a moment. It is essential that ever-new military units should go to the front to forge victory over the bestial enemy. It is essential that our industry, particularly our war industry, should work with redoubled energy. It is essential that with every day the front should receive ever more tanks, planes, guns, mortars, machine-guns, rifles, automatic rifles, and ammunition.
Herein lies one of the basic sources of the strength and power of the Red Army.
But the strength of the Red Army does not consist only in this. The strength of the Red Army rests, above all, in the fact that it is waging, not a predatory, not an imperialist war, but a patriotic war, a war of liberation, a just war. The Red Army's task is to liberate our Soviet territory from the German invaders; to liberate from the yoke of the German invaders the citizens of our villages and towns who were free and lived like human beings before the war, but are now oppressed and suffer pillage, ruin and famine; and finally, to liberate our women from that disgrace and outrage to which they are subjected by the German-fascist monsters. What could be more noble, more lofty, than such a task? Not one German soldier can say that he is waging a just war, because he cannot fail to see that he is forced to fight for the despoliation and oppression of other peoples. The German soldier has no such lofty and noble aim in the war which could inspire him and of which he could be proud. But, in contrast, any Red Army man can say' with pride that he is waging a just war, a war for liberation, a war for the freedom and independence of his Motherland. The Red Army does have a noble and lofty aim in the war which inspires it to great exploits. It is precisely this that explains why the patriotic war brings forth among us thousands of heroes and heroines ready to go to their death for the sake of the liberty of their Motherland.
Herein lies the strength of the Red Army.
And herein lies the weakness of the German-fascist army.
The foreign Press sometimes carries such twaddle as that the Red Army pursues the aim of exterminating the German people and destroying the German state. This, of course, is a stupid lie, and a senseless slander against the Red Army. The Red Army has not and cannot have such idiotic aims. The Red Army's aim is to drive the German occupants from our country and liberate Soviet soil from the German-fascist invaders. It is very likely that the war for the liberation of Soviet soil will lead to the exile or destruction of Hitler's clique. We would welcome such an outcome. But it would be ludicrous to identify Hitler's clique with the German people, with the German state. The experience of history indicates that Hitlers come and go, but the German people and the German state remain.
The strength of the Red Army lies, finally, in the fact that it does not and cannot feel racial hatred for other peoples, including the German people; that it has been trained in the spirit of equality of all peoples and races, in the spirit of respect for the rights of other peoples. The Germans' racial theory and the practice of racial hatred have caused all freedom-loving peoples to become enemies of fascist Germany. The theory of race equality in the U.S.S.R. and practice of respect for the rights of other peoples have caused all freedom-loving peoples to become the friends of the Soviet Union.
Herein lies the strength of the Red Army.
And herein lies the weakness of the German-fascist army.
The foreign Press sometimes carries such twaddle as that the Soviet people hate the Germans just as Germans, that the Red Army exterminates German soldiers just as Germans out of hatred for everything German and that therefore the Red Army does not take German soldiers prisoner. That, of course is a similar stupid lie and senseless slander against the Red Army. The Red Army is devoid of all sentiments of racial hatred. It is devoid of such degrading sentiments because it has been trained in the spirit of racial equality and respect for the rights of other peoples. It should not be forgotten either that in our country any manifestation of racial hatred is punished by law.
Of course, the Red Army has to destroy the German-fascist occupationists inasmuch as they wish to enslave our Motherland; or when, on being surrounded by our troops, they refuse to lay down their arms and surrender. The Red Army annihilates them, not because of their German origin, but because they want to enslave our Motherland. The Red Army, like the army of any other people, has the right and is duty-bound to annihilate the enslavers of its Motherland, irrespective of their national origin. Not long ago the German garrisons in the towns of Kalinin, Klin, Sukhinichi, Andreapol and Toropets were surrounded by our troops, who offered them surrender and, in this case, promised to spare their lives. The German garrisons refused to lay down their arms and surrender. It is obvious that they had to be driven out by force and that not a few Germans were killed. War is war. The Red Army takes German soldiers and officers prisoner if they surrender, and spares their lives. The Red Army annihilates German soldiers and officers if they refuse to lay down their arms, and, arms in hand, attempt to enslave our Motherland. Remember the words of the great Russian writer, Maxim Gorky: "If the enemy does not surrender he must be annihilated."
Comrades! Red Army men and Red Navy men, commanders and political workers, men and women guerillas! I congratulate you on the twenty-fourth anniversary of the Red Army! I wish you complete victory over the German-fascist invaders.
Long live the Red Army and Navy!
Long live the green and women guerillas!
Long live our glorious native land, its freedom and its independence!
Long live the great party of the Bolsheviks which is leading us to victory!
Long live the invincible banner of the great Lenin!
Under the banner of Lenin onward to the defeat of the German-fascist invaders!
J. Stalin
Moscow
People's Commissar for Defence of the U.S.S.R.
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Telegram to V. Komorov
April 12, 1942
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
I hope that the Academy of Science of the U.S.S.R. will place itself at the head of the movement of innovators in the fields of science and production, and will become the centre of advanced Soviet science in the far-reaching struggle against the most ferocious enemy of our people and of all peace-loving peoples (Incomplete in Russian original.)
The government of the Soviet Union attests its conviction that in the dark times of the great patriotic war of the Soviet people against the -occupying Germans, the Academy of Science of the U.S.S.R., under your direction, will perform with honour its great patriotic duty before the Motherland.
J. STALIN
President of the Council of the Commissariat of the People
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day, No. 95
February 23, 1943
COMRADES, Red Army men and Red Navy men, commanders and political workers, men and women guerillas! To-day we are celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the formation of the Red Army.
A quarter of a century has passed since the Red Army was created. It was created for struggle against foreign invaders who endeavoured to enslave our country. February 23, 1918, the day when detachments of the Red Army utterly routed the troops of the German invaders near Pskov and Narva, was proclaimed the birthday of the Red Army.
In 1918-21, in stubborn struggle against foreign invaders, the Red Army defended the honour, freedom and independence of our Soviet Motherland, defended the right of the peoples of our country to build their life in the way the great Lenin had taught.
During two decades the Red Army protected the peaceful constructive labour of the Soviet people. The peoples of our country never forgot the encroachments of foreign invaders on our land, and spared no effort to strengthen the might of the Red Army, supplied it with first-class war equipment, and lovingly reared cadres of Soviet warriors.
The Red Army is an army of defence of peace and friendship among the peoples of all countries. It was created not for the conquest of foreign countries, but for the defence of the frontiers of the Soviet country. The Red Army has always respected the rights and independence of all peoples.
But in June, 1941, Hitlerite Germany treacherously attacked our country, in ruthless and base violation of the Treaty of Non-Aggression, and the Red Army found itself compelled to march to defend its Motherland against the German invaders and to oust them from our country. Since that time the Red Army has become an army of life-and-death struggle against the Hitlerite troops, an army of avengers of the outrages and humiliation inflicted by the German-fascist blackguards on our brothers and sisters in the occupied districts of our country.
The Red Army meets the twenty-fifth anniversary of its existence at a decisive moment in the patriotic war against Hitlerite Germany and her vassals—the Italians, Hungarians, Rumanians, Finns.
For twenty months the Red Army has been waging an heroic struggle, without parallel in history, against the invasion of the German-fascist hordes. In view of the absence of a second front in Europe, the Red Army alone bears the whole burden of the war. Nevertheless, the Red Army has not only held its own against the onslaught of the German-fascist hordes, but has become in the course of the war the terror of the fascist armies.
In the hard battles of the summer and autumn of 1942, the Red Army barred the way to the fascist beasts. Our people will remember for all time the heroic defence of Sevastopol and Odessa, the stubborn battles before Moscow and in the foothills of the Caucasus, in the Rzhev area and before Leningrad, the battle at the walls of Stalingrad, the greatest in the history of war. In these great battles our gallant Red Army men, commanders and political workers covered the standards of the Red Army with undying glory and laid the firm foundation for victory over the German-fascist armies.
Three months ago the troops of the Red Army began their offensive at the approaches to Stalingrad. Since then the initiative in military operations has remained in our hands and the pace and striking power of the offensive operations of the Red Army have not weakened. To-day, in hard winter conditions, the Red Army is advancing over a front of 1,500 kilometres (950 miles) and is achieving successes practically everywhere. In the north, near Leningrad, on the central front, at the approaches to Kharkov, in the Donets Basin, at Rostov, on the shores of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, the Red Army is striking blow after blow at the Hitlerite troops. In three months the Red Army has liberated from the enemy the territory of the Voronezh and Stalingrad regions, the Checheno-Ingush, North Ossetian, Kabardino-Balkarian and Kalmyk Autonomous Republics, the Stavropol and Krasnodar Territories, the Cherkess (Circassian), Karachaisu and Adygeisu Autonomous Regions and almost the whole of the Rostov, Kharkov and Kursk Regions.
The mass expulsion of the enemy from the Soviet country has begun.
What changes have taken place during these three months? Whence these serious reverses of the Germans? What are the causes of these reverses?
The balance of forces on the Soviet-German front has changed. The fact is that fascist Germany is becoming more and more exhausted and weaker while the Soviet Union is deploying its reserves more and more and becoming ever stronger. Time is working against fascist Germany.
Hitlerite Germany, which forces the war industry of Europe to work for her, until recently enjoyed superiority in equipment over the Soviet Union, above all in tanks and aircraft. It was here that she had the advantage. But in twenty months of war the situation has changed. Thanks to the self-sacrificing labour of working men and women, engineers and technicians of the war industry of the U.S.S.R., the production of tanks, planes and guns has increased in the course of the war. During this period on the Soviet-German front the enemy has suffered enormous losses in war material, particularly in tanks, planes and guns. In three months of the Red Army's offensive in the winter of 1942-43 alone, the Germans lost over 7,000 tanks, 4,000 planes, 17,000 guns and large quantities of other arms.
Of course, the Germans will try to make good these losses, but this will not be so easy to do, as the enemy will require no little time to make up for these enormous losses in war material. And time does not wait.
When Hitlerite Germany began the war against the U.S.S.R. she enjoyed numerical superiority in troops already mobilized and ready for battle as compared with the Red Army. It was here that she had the advantage. In twenty months, however, the situation has changed in this sphere also. In defensive and offensive battles, the Red Army, since the beginning of the war, has put out of action about 9,000,000 German-fascist officers and men, of whom no less than 4,000,000 were killed on the battlefield. The Rumanian, Italian and Hungarian armies hurled by Hitler on to the Soviet-German front have been completely routed. In the last three months alone the Red Army has routed 112 enemy divisions, killing more than 700,000 men and taking over 300,000 prisoners.
The German Command will certainly make every effort to make good these tremendous losses. But, first, the weakness of the German army is the shortage of man-power reserves, and consequently it is not known from what sources these losses will be replaced. Secondly, even supposing that, by hook or by crook, the Germans are able to scrape together the necessary number of men, it will require no little time to assemble and train them. And time does not wait.
The Hitlerite army entered the war against the Soviet Union with almost two years' experience of conducting large-scale military operations in Europe, applying the most modern means of warfare. The Red Army, in the initial stages of the war, naturally had not yet had, and could not have had, such military experience. It was here that the German-fascist army had the advantage. In twenty months, however, the situation has changed in this sphere. In the course of the war the Red Army has become a seasoned army. It has learned to smite the enemy for certain, taking into account both his weak and strong points, as is demanded by modern military science. Hundreds of thousands, millions of Red Army men have become masters of their weapons—rifles, sabres, machine-guns, artillery, mortars, tanks, aircraft, and sappers' equipment. Tens of thousands of Red Army commanders have mastered the art of commanding troops. They have learned to combine personal daring and courage with skill in directing their troops on the battlefield, having discarded foolish and harmful linear tactics and having firmly adopted the tactics of manœuvre.
It cannot be considered an accident that the Red Army Command not only liberates Soviet soil from the enemy but does not let the enemy leave our soil alive, carrying out such important operations as the encirclement and annihilation of enemy armies which can well serve as examples of military art. This is undoubtedly a sign of the maturity of our commanders.
There can be no doubt that only the correct strategy of the Red Army Command, and the flexible tactics of our commanders who execute it, could have resulted in such an outstanding fact as the encirclement and annihilation at Stalingrad of an enormous picked army of Germans, numbering 330,000 men.
In this respect, things are far from well with the Germans. Their strategy is defective because, as a general rule, it under-estimates the strength and possibilities of the enemy and over-estimates its own forces. Their tactics are hackneyed, for they try to make events at the front fit in with this or that article of the regulations. The Germans are accurate and precise in their operations when the situation permits them to act as required by the regulations. That is where their strength lies. They become helpless when the situation becomes complicated and ceases to "correspond" to this or that article of the regulations, but calls for the adoption of an independent decision not provided for in the regulations. It is here that their main weakness lies.
Such are the causes which determined the defeat of the German troops and the successes of the Red Army during the past three months. It does not follow from this, however, that the Hitlerite army is done for and that it now only remains for the Red Army to pursue it to the western. frontiers of our country. To think so would be to indulge in unwise and harmful self-delusion. To think so would be to over-estimate our own strength, to under-estimate the strength of the enemy and to adopt an adventurist course. The enemy has suffered defeat, but he is not yet vanquished. The German-fascist army is now going through a crisis as a result of the blows received from the Red Army, but this does not mean that it cannot recover. The struggle against the German invaders is not yet ended—it is as yet only developing and flaring up. It would be stupid to suppose that the Germans will give up even a kilometre of our soil without fighting.
The Red Army has before it a grim struggle against a perfidious, cruel and still strong enemy. This struggle will require time, sacrifices, exertion of our forces and the mobilization of all our potentialities. We have begun the liberation of the Soviet Ukraine from German oppression, but millions of Ukrainians still languish under the yoke of the German enslavers. The German invaders and their vassals still lord it in Byelorussia, Lithuania, Latvia, Esthonia, in Moldavia, in the Crimea, in Karelia. The enemy armies have been dealt powerful blows, but the enemy has not yet been vanquished. The German invaders are resisting furiously, are launching counter-attacks, are striving to cling to their defence lines, and may embark on fresh adventures. That is why there can be no place for complacency, carelessness or conceit in our ranks.
The whole Soviet people rejoices in the Red Army's victories. But the Red Army men, commanders and political workers should firmly remember the precepts of our teacher Lenin. "The first thing is not to be carried away by victory and not to get conceited; the second thing is to consolidate one's victory; the third thing is to finish off the enemy."
In the name of the liberation of our country from the hated enemy, in the name of final victory over the German-fascist invaders—I order:
(1) Indefatigably to perfect military training and to strengthen discipline, order and organization throughout the Red Army and Navy.
(2) To deal stronger blows against the enemy troops, to pursue the enemy indefatigably and persistently, without allowing him to consolidate himself on defence lines. To give him no respite by day or night, to cut his communications, to surround his troops and annihilate them if they refuse to lay down their arms.
(3) To fan brighter the flames of guerilla warfare in the rear of the enemy, to destroy the enemy's communications, to blow up railway bridges, to frustrate the transport of enemy troops and the supply of arms and ammunition, to blow up and set fire to army stores, to attack enemy garrisons, to prevent the retreating enemy from burning down our villages and towns, to help the advancing Red Army heart and soul and by all possible means.
In this lies the guarantee of our victory.
Comrades, Red Army men and Red Navy men, commanders and political workers, men and women guerillas!
On behalf of the Soviet Government and our Bolshevik Party, I greet you and congratulate you on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Red Army.
Long live our great Motherland!
Long live our glorious Red Army, our valiant Navy, our brave men and women guerillas!
Long live the Party of Bolsheviks, the inspirer and organizer of the Red Army's victories!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Moscow
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day, No. 130
May 1, 1942
COMRADES, men of the Red Army and the Red Navy, commanders and political instructors, men and women guerillas, men and women workers, men and women peasants, people engaged in intellectual work, brothers and sisters on the other side of the front, in the rear of the German-fascist troops, who have temporarily fallen under the yoke of the German oppressors!
On behalf of the Soviet Government and our Bolshevik Party I greet and congratulate you on the day of the First of May.
Comrades! This year the peoples of our country meet the International May Day under the conditions of the patriotic war against the German-fascist invaders. The war has laid its imprint on every aspect of our life. It has laid its imprint also on this day, on the festival of May First. The working people of our country, mindful of the war situation, have renounced their holiday rest in order to pass this day in intense work for the defence of our country. Living at one with our fighters at the front, they have turned the festival of May First into a day of toil and struggle in order to afford the front the greatest possible assistance and supply it with more rifles, machine-guns, guns, mortars, tanks and aircraft, ammunition, bread, meat, fish and vegetables.
This signifies that in our country front and rear constitute a single indivisible fighting camp, ready to overcome any difficulties on the road to victory over the enemy.
Comrades! More than two years have elapsed since the German-fascist invaders plunged Europe into the abyss of war, subjugated the freedom-loving countries of the European continent—France, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Holland, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Yugoslavia, Greece—and began to suck out their blood for the enrichment of the German bankers. More than ten months have elapsed since the German-fascist invaders basely and perfidiously attacked our country, plundering and devastating our villages and cities, outraging and murdering the peaceful populations of Esthonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Byelorussia, the Ukraine, Moldavia. For more than ten months the peoples of our country have been waging a patriotic war against the brutal enemy, defending the honour and freedom of their Motherland. During this period of time we have had the opportunity of obtaining quite a good view of the German-fascists, of grasping their real intentions, of learning their true face, not from verbal declarations, but from the experience of the war, from facts known to all.
Who then are they, these enemies of ours, the German-fascists? What kind of people are they? What does the experience of the war teach us on this point?
It is said that the German-fascists are nationalists safeguarding the integrity and independence of Germany against encroachments on the part of other states. This is, of course, a lie. Only liars can assert that Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Holland, Greece, the Soviet Union and other freedom-loving countries had been encroaching on the integrity and independence of Germany. In reality the German fascists are not nationalists but imperialists, who seize foreign countries and suck their blood in order to enrich the German bankers and plutocrats. The leading German-fascist, Göring, is himself, as is well known, one of the leading bankers and plutocrats, exploiting dozens of factories. Hitler, Göbbels, Ribbentrop, Himmler and other rulers of present-day Germany are the watchdogs of the German bankers, who place the interests of the latter far above all other interests. The German army is a blind tool in the hands of these gentlemen, and is called upon to shed its blood and alien blood, and to cripple itself and others, not in the interests of Germany, but for the enrichment of the German bankers and plutocrats.
This is what the experience of the war tells us.
It is said that the German-fascists are socialists who endeavour to defend the interests of the workers and peasants against the plutocrats. This is, of course, a lie. Only liars can assert that the German fascists, who have instituted slave labour in factories and restored the system of serfdom in the villages of Germany and the subjugated countries, are defenders of workers and peasants. Only insolent swindlers can deny that the system of slavery and serfdom established by the German fascists is of profit to the German plutocrats and bankers and not to the workers and peasants. In actual fact the German-fascists are reactionary serf-owners, and the German army an army of serf-owners, shedding its blood for the enrichment of the German barons and the restoration of the power of the landlords.
This is what the experience of the war tells us.
It is said that the German-fascists are the bearers of European culture, waging war for the dissemination of this culture in other countries. This is, of course, a lie. Only professional swindlers can assert that the German-fascists, who have covered Europe with gallows, who are pillaging and outraging the peaceful population, who are setting fire to and blowing up cities and villages, and destroying the cultural values of the peoples of Europe, can be bearers of European culture. In actual fact the German-fascists are the enemies of European culture, and the German army is an army of mediæval obscurantism, called upon to destroy European culture for the sake of implanting the slaveholders' "culture" of the German bankers and barons.
This is what the experience of the war tells us.
Such is the face of our enemy, unmasked and exposed to the light by the experience of the war.
But the experience of the war is not confined to these conclusions. The experience of the war shows in addition that during the war important changes have taken place both in the situation of fascist Germany and her army, and in the situation of our country and the Red Army.
What are these changes?
It is undoubtedly true, in the first place, that fascist Germany and its army have become weaker during this period than they were ten months ago. The war has brought the German people great disillusionments, the sacrifice of millions of human victims, starvation and impoverishment. The end of the war is not in sight, but the reserves of man-power are giving out, oil is giving out, raw materials are giving out. The German people are becoming more and more aware of the inevitability of Germany's defeat. The German people realize with growing clarity that the only way out of the situation that has arisen is the liberation of Germany from the adventurist Hitler-Göring clique.
The Hitlerite imperialists have occupied vast territories in Europe, but they have not broken the will to resistance of the European peoples. The struggle of the enslaved peoples against the regime of the German-fascist highwaymen is beginning to assume general scope. Sabotage at war plants, the blowing up of German ammunition stores, the wrecking of German troop trains and the killing of German soldiers and officers have become everyday occurrences in all the occupied countries. All Yugoslavia and the German-occupied Soviet areas are swept by the flames of partisan warfare.
All these circumstances have led to a weakening of the German rear, which means the weakening of fascist Germany as a whole.
As to the German army, despite its stubbornness in defence it has become much weaker than it was ten months ago. Its old and experienced generals, such as Reichenau, Brauchitsch, Todt and others, have either been killed by the Red Army or cashiered by the German-fascist ruling clique. Its seasoned officer corps has in part been exterminated by the Red Army, and in part become demoralized as a result of the plunder and outrages against the civilian population. Its rank and file, seriously weakened in the course of the military operations, is receiving fewer reinforcements.
Secondly, there is no doubt that during the period of the war to date our country has become stronger than it was at the beginning of the war. Not only friends, but even enemies, are compelled to admit that our country is to-day more united and more firmly rallied round its Government than ever before, that the rear and the front of our country are united in a single fighting camp which is firing at the same target, that the Soviet people in the rear are supplying our front with ever-increasing numbers of rifles and machine-guns, mortars and guns, tanks and aircraft, provisions and ammunition.
As regards the international connections of our Motherland, they have recently grown and gained strength as never before. All freedom-loving peoples have united against German imperialism. Their eyes are turned to the Soviet Union. The heroic fight which the peoples of our country are waging for their freedom, honour and independence evokes the admiration of all progressive humanity. The peoples of all freedom-loving countries look to the Soviet Union as a force capable of saving the world from the Hitlerite plague. Among these freedom-loving countries, the first place is occupied by Great Britain and the United States of America, with which we are bound by ties of friendship and alliance, and who are rendering our country ever-increasing military assistance against the German-fascist invaders.
All these circumstances are evidence of the fact that our country has become much stronger.
Finally, there is no doubt that during the period of the war to date the Red Army has become better organized and stronger than it was at the beginning of the war. One cannot regard as accidental the universally known fact that, after a temporary retreat caused by the treacherous attack of the German imperialists, the Red Army managed to achieve a turn in the course of the war and passed from active defence to a successful offensive against the enemy troops. It is a fact that thanks to the successes of the Red Army, the patriotic war has entered on a new period—the period of liberation of Soviet lands from the Hitlerite scum. True, the Red Army undertook the accomplishment of this historic task under the difficult conditions of a grim winter with heavy snowfalls; but nevertheless it achieved great successes. Having taken the initiative in military operations into its own hands, the Red Army inflicted a number of serious defeats on the German-fascist troops and compelled them to clear a considerable portion of Soviet territory. The invaders' plans to make use of the winter for a respite and for strengthening their position on their line of defence suffered a fiasco. In the course of its offensive the Red Army has annihilated vast numbers of the enemy's man-power and vast quantities of his equipment, has captured no small quantity of the enemy's equipment and compelled him prematurely to expend reserves brought up from deep in the rear and intended for the spring and summer operations.
All this is evidence of the fact that the Red Army has become better organized and stronger, that its officer cadres have become steeled in battle, and that its generals have become more experienced and far-sighted.
A radical change has also taken place in the rank and file of the Red Army.
The complacency and heedlessness in the attitude towards the enemy which were observed among Red Army men during the first months of the patriotic war have disappeared. The atrocities, plunder and outrages perpetrated by the German-fascist invaders against the civilians and Soviet prisoners-of-war have cured our men of this ailment. The Red Army men have become more envenomed and more ruthless. They have learnt to hate the German-fascist invaders in earnest. They have realized that one cannot defeat an enemy without having learnt to hate him heart and soul.
There is no more idle talk about the invincibility of the German troops, such as took place at the beginning of the war and which served to conceal fear of the Germans. The famous battles at Rostov and Kerch, at Moscow and Kalinin, at Tikhvin and Leningrad, in which the Red Army put the German-fascist invaders to flight, have convinced our men that this idle talk about the invincibility of the German troops is a fable invented by fascist propagandists. The experience of the war has convinced our fighting men that the so-called courage of the German officer is something highly relative, that the German officer displays courage when he is dealing with unarmed war prisoners and with the peaceful civilian population; but his courage deserts him when he is confronted with the organized might of the Red Army. Remember the popular saying: "A hero when facing sheep but himself a sheep when faced by a hero."
Such are the conclusions to be drawn from the experience of the war against the German-fascist invaders.
What do they imply?
They imply that we can and must continue to smite the German-fascist invaders until their final extermination, until the final liberation of Soviet soil from the Hitlerite blackguards.
Comrades! We are waging a patriotic war, a war of liberation, a just war. We have no such aims as the seizing of foreign lands, the subjugation of foreign peoples. Our aim is clear and noble. We want to free our Soviet soil of the German-fascist blackguards. We want to free our brothers the Ukrainians, Moldavians, Byelorussians, Lithuanians, Latvians, Esthonians and Karelians from the shame and humiliation to which they are subjected by the German-fascist blackguards. To achieve this aim we must smash the German-fascist army and exterminate the German occupationists to a man, so long as they do not surrender. There is no other way.
We can do this and we must do this at any cost.
The Red Army possesses everything that is necessary for the realization of this lofty aim. Only one thing is lacking—the ability to utilize to the full against the enemy the first-class equipment with which our Motherland supplies it. Therefore the task of the Red Army, of its men, its machine-gunners, its artillerymen, its mortar crews, its tankmen, its fliers and cavalrymen, is to study the art of war, to study assiduously, to master their arms to perfection, to become expert at their jobs and thus learn to defeat the enemy for certain. Only in this way can one learn the art of defeating the enemy.
Comrades, Red Army men and Red Navy men, commanders and political instructors, men and women guerilla fighters!
Greeting you and congratulating you on this First of May, I order:
1. The men of the rank and file to study their rifles to perfection, to become plasters of their arms, to hit the enemy without fail, just as our glorious snipers, the exterminators of the German occupationists, are hitting them!
2. Machine-gunners, artillerymen, mortar crews, tankmen and fliers to study their arms to perfection, become experts at their jobs, to hit the German-fascist invaders point-blank until their final extermination.
3. Commanders of all units—to learn to perfection the art of co-ordinating the various branches of the service, to become expert in the art of commanding troops, to show the whole world that the Red Army is capable of fulfilling its great mission of liberation!
4. The entire Red Army—to make 1942 the year of the final rout of the German-fascist troops and the liberation of the Soviet land from the Hitlerite blackguards!
5. Men and women guerillas—to intensify partisan warfare in the rear of the German invaders, destroy the enemy's communications and transport facilities, to destroy the headquarters and equipment of the enemy, and not to spare any cartridges against the oppressors of our Motherland!
Under the invincible banner of the great Lenin—forward to victory!
J. Stalin
Moscow
People's Commissar of Defence of the U.S.S.R.
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Answers to Associated Press
Moscow Coorespondent's Questions
October 3, 1942
The Moscow correspondent of the American News Agency Associated Press, Mr. Henry Cassidy, addressed to J. V. Stalin, as Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the U.S.S.R., a letter in which he asked for an answer, either verbally or in writing, to three questions of interest to the American public. In reply J. V. Stalin sent Mr. Cassidy the following letter:
Dear Mr. Cassidy,
Owing to pressure of work and consequent inability to grant you an interview, I shall confine myself to a brief written answer to your questions.
(1) QUESTION: What place does the possibility of a Second Front occupy in Soviet estimates of the current situation?
ANSWER: A very important place: one might say a place of first-rate importance.
(2) QUESTION: To what extent is Allied aid to the Soviet Union proving effective, and what could be done to amplify and improve this aid?
ANSWER: As compared with the aid which the Soviet Union is giving to the Allies by drawing upon itself the main forces of the German-fascist armies, the aid of the Allies to the Soviet Union has so far been little effective. In order to amplify and improve this aid only one thing is required: that the Allies fulfil their obligations completely and on time.
(3) QUESTION: What remains of the Soviet capacity for resistance?
ANSWER: I think that the Soviet capacity for resisting the German brigands is in strength not a whit less, if not greater, than the capacity of fascist Germany, or of any other aggressive Power, to secure for itself world domination.
With respects,
(Signed) J. Stalin.
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Speech at Celebration Meeting
of the Moscow Soviet
of Working People's Deputies
and Moscow Party and Public Organizations
November 6, 1942
COMRADES! To-day we are celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Revolution in our country. Twenty-five years have elapsed since the Soviet system was established in our country. We are now on the threshold of the next, the twenty-sixth year, of the existence of the Soviet regime.
At meetings in celebration of anniversaries of the October Soviet Revolution it is customary to pass in review the results of the work of the Government and Party organs for the past year. It is on these results for the past year, from November of last year to November of the current year, that I have been authorized to make a summary report to you.
The activities of our Government and Party organs during the past period proceeded in two directions: in the direction of peaceful construction and the organization of a strong rear for our front, on the one hand, and in the direction of carrying out defensive and offensive operations by the Red Army, on the other.
I. Organizational Work in the Rear
The peaceful, constructive work of our directing organs in this period consisted in shifting the base of our industry, both war and civilian, to the Eastern regions of our country; in the evacuation and establishment in their new places of the industrial workers and the equipment of the plants; in extending the sown areas and increasing the winter crop area in the east; and lastly in radically improving the work of our industries producing for the front and strengthening labour discipline in the rear, both in the factories and on the collective and state farms. It should be said that this was a most difficult and complex work of organization on a large scale on the part of all our economic and administrative People's Commissariats, including our railways. However, we managed to overcome the difficulties. And now our factories, collective farms and state farms are indisputably, in spite of all the difficulties of war-time, working satisfactorily. Our war factories and allied enterprises are conscientiously and punctually supplying the Red Army with guns, mortars, aircraft, tanks, machineguns, rifles and ammunition. Our collective farms and State farms are likewise conscientiously and punctually supplying the population and the Red Army with foodstuffs and our industries with raw materials. It must be admitted that never before has our country had such a strong and well-organized rear.
As the result of all this complex organizational and constructional work not only our country but also the people themselves in the rear have been transformed. They have become more efficient, less slipshod, more disciplined; they have learned to work in war-time fashion and have come to realize their duty to the Motherland and her defenders at the front—the Red Army. Bunglers and slackers with no sense of civic duty are growing fewer and fewer in the rear. Organized and disciplined people, imbued with the sense of civic duty, are becoming more and more numerous.
But, as I have said, the past year was not only one of peaceful construction. It was at the same time a year of patriotic war against the German invaders who vilely and treacherously attacked our peaceful country.
II. Military Operations on the Soviet-German Front
As regards the military activities of our directing organs in the past year, these consisted in providing for offensive and defensive operations by the Red Army against the German-fascist troops. The military operations on the Soviet-German front in the past year may be divided into two periods: The first period was chiefly the winter period, when the Red Army, having beaten off the Germans' attack on Moscow, took the initiative into its own hands, passed to the offensive, drove back the German troops and in the space of four months advanced, in places, over 400 kilometres (250 miles); and the second period was the summer period, when the German-fascist troops, taking advantage of the absence of a second front in Europe, mustered all their available reserves, pierced the front in the south-westerly direction and, taking the initiative into their own hands, in the space of five months advanced in places as much as 500 kilometres (300 miles).
Military operations in the first period, especially the successful operations of the Red Army in the Rostov, Tula and Kaluga areas, at Moscow and at Tikhvin and Leningrad, disclosed two significant facts. They showed, first, that the Red Army and its fighting cadres have grown into an effective force capable not only of withstanding the onslaught of the German-fascist troops, but also of defeating them in open battle and driving them back. They showed, secondly, that for all their staunchness, the German-fascist troops have such serious organic defects that, given certain favourable conditions for the Red Army, these may lead to the defeat of the German troops. It cannot be regarded as mere chance that the German troops, having marched in triumph through all Europe, and having smashed at one blow the French troops which had been considered first-class troops, met with effective military resistance only in our own country, and not only met with resistance, but were compelled, under the blows of the Red Army, to retreat more than 400 kilometres (250 miles) from the positions they had occupied, abandoning on their road of retreat an immense quantity of guns, machines and ammunition. This fact cannot be explained by winter conditions of warfare alone.
The second period of military operations on the Soviet-German front was marked by a change in favour of the Germans, by the passing of the initiative into the hands of the Germans, by the piercing of our front in the south-western direction, by the advance of the German troops and their reaching the areas of Voronezh, Stalingrad, Novorossisk, Pyatigorsk and Mozdok. Taking advantage of the absence of a second front in Europe, the Germans and their allies hurled all their available reserves to the front and, massing them in one direction—the south-western direction—created a largo superiority of forces and achieved a substantial tactical success.
Apparently the Germans are no longer strong enough to conduct an offensive simultaneously in all three directions, in the south, north and centre, as was the case in the early months of the German offensive in the summer of last year. But they are still strong enough to organize a serious offensive in one direction.
What was the principal objective of the German-fascist strategists when they started their summer offensive on our front? To judge by the comments of the foreign Press, including the German, one might think that the principal objective of the offensive was to capture the oil districts of Grozny and Baku. But the facts decisively refute this assumption. The facts show that the Germans' advance on the oil districts of the U.S.S.R. is not their main aim but an auxiliary one.
What then was the principal objective of the German offensive? It was to outflank Moscow from the east, to cut it off from our rear in the Volga and Urals areas and then to strike at Moscow. The advance of the Germans southward towards the oil districts had an auxiliary purpose which was not only and not so much to capture the oil districts, as to divert our main reserves to the south and to weaken the Moscow front, so as to make it easier to achieve success when striking at Moscow. This, in fact, explains why the main grouping of German troops is now to be found not in the south but in the Orel and Stalingrad areas.
Recently an officer of the German General Staff fell into the hands of our men. A map was found on this officer showing the plan and time-table of the advance of the German troops. From this document it transpires that the Germans intended to be in Borisoglebsk on July 10 of this year, in Stalingrad on July 25, in Saratov on August 10, in Kuibyshev on August 15, in Arzamas on September 10 and in Baku on September 25.
This document completely confirms our information to the effect that the principal aim of the Germans' summer offensive was to outflank Moscow from the east and to strike at Moscow, while the purpose of the advance to the south was, apart from everything else, to divert our reserves as far as possible from Moscow and to weaken the Moscow front so as to make it easier to strike at Moscow.
In short, the main aim of the Germans' summer offensive was to surround Moscow and end the war this year.
In November of last year the Germans reckoned on capturing Moscow by a frontal attack, compelling the Red Army to capitulate, and thus achieving the termination of the war in the east. They fed their soldiers with these illusions. But, as we know, these calculations of the Germans miscarried. Having burnt their fingers last year in attempting a frontal blow at Moscow, the Germans conceived the intention of capturing Moscow this year, this time by an outflanking movement, and thus ending the war in the east. It is with these illusions that they are now feeding their duped soldiers. As is known, these calculations of the Germans also miscarried. As the result of chasing two hares—both oil and the encirclement of Moscow—the German-fascist strategists found themselves in a difficult situation.
Thus the tactical successes of the Germans' summer offensive were not consummated owing to the obvious unreality of their strategic plans.
III. The Question of the Second Front in Europe
How are we to explain the fact that the Germans this year were still able to take the initiative of military operations into their hands and achieve substantial tactical successes on our front?
It is to be explained by the fact that the Germans and their allies succeeded in mustering all their available reserves, hurling them on to the eastern front and creating a large superiority of forces in one of the directions. There can be no doubt that but for these measures the Germans could not have achieved any success on our front.
But why were they able to muster all their reserves and hurl them on the eastern front? Because the absence of a second front in Europe enabled them to carry out this operation without any risk to themselves.
Hence the chief reason for the tactical successes of the Germans on our front this year is that the absence of a second front in Europe enabled them to hurl on to our front all their available reserves and to create a large superiority of forces in the south-western direction.
Let us assume that a second front existed in Europe, as it existed in the first World War, and that a second front diverted, let us say, sixty German divisions and twenty divisions of Germany's allies. What would have been the position of the German troops on our front then? It is not difficult to guess that their position would have been deplorable. More than that, it would have been the beginning of the end of the German-fascist troops, for in that case the Red Army would not be where it is now, but somewhere near Pskov, Minsk, Zhitomir and Odessa. That means that in the summer of this year the German-fascist army would already have been on the verge of disaster. If that has not occurred, it is because the Germans were saved by the absence of a second front in Europe.
Let us examine the question of a second front in Europe in its historical aspect.
In the first World War Germany had to fight on two fronts in the west, chiefly against Great Britain and France, and in the east against the Russian troops. Thus in the first World War there existed a second front against Germany. Of the 220 divisions which Germany had then, not more than 85 German divisions were stationed on the Russian front. If to this we add the troops of Germany's allies then facing the Russian front—namely, 37 Austro-Hungarian divisions, 2 Bulgarian divisions and 3 Turkish divisions—we get a total of 127 divisions facing the Russian troops. The rest of the divisions of Germany and her allies mainly held the front against the Anglo-French troops, while part of them performed garrison service in occupied territories of Europe.
Such was the position in the first World War.
What is the position now, in the second World War, in September of this year, let us say?
According to authenticated information which is beyond all doubt, of the 256 divisions which Germany now has, not less than 179 German divisions are on our front. If to this we add 22 Rumanian divisions, 14 Finnish divisions, 10 Italian divisions, 13 Hungarian divisions, 1 Slovak and 1 Spanish division, we get a total of 240 divisions which are now fighting on our front. The remaining divisions of Germany and her allies are performing garrison service in the occupied countries (France, Belgium, Norway, Holland, Yugoslavia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, etc.), while part of them are fighting in Libya for Egypt against Great Britain, the Libyan front diverting in all 4 German divisions and 11 Italian divisions.
Hence, instead of the 127 divisions as in the first World War, we are now facing on our front no less than 240 divisions, and, instead of 85 German divisions, we now have 179 German divisions fighting the Red Army.
There you have the chief reason and foundation for the tactical success of the German-fascist troops on our front in the summer of this year.
The German invasion of our country is often compared to Napoleon's invasion of Russia. But this comparison will not bear criticism. Of the 600,000 troops which began the campaign against Russia, Napoleon scarcely brought 130,000 or 140,000 as far as Borodino.
That was all he had at his disposal at Moscow. Well, we now have over 3,000,000 troops facing the front of the Red Army and armed with all the implements of modern warfare. What comparison can there be here?
The German invasion of our country is also sometimes compared to the German invasion of Russia at the time of the first World War. But neither will this comparison bear criticism. First, in the first World War there was a second front in Europe which rendered the Germans' position very difficult, whereas in this war there is no second front in Europe. Secondly, in this war, twice as many troops are facing our front as in the first World War. Obviously the comparison is not appropriate.
You can now conceive how serious and extraordinary are the difficulties confronting the Red Army, and how great is the heroism displayed by the Red Army in its war of liberation against the German-fascist troops.
I think that no other country and no other army could have withstood such an onslaught of the bestial bands of the German-fascist brigands and their allies. Only our Soviet country and only our Red Army are capable of withstanding such an onslaught. (Loud applause.) And not only withstanding it but also overpowering it.
It is often asked: But will there be a second front in Europe after all? Yes, there will be; sooner or later, there will be one. And it will be not only because we need it, but above all because our Allies need it no less than we do. Our Allies cannot fail to realize that since France has been put out of action, the absence of a second front against fascist Germany may end badly for all freedom-loving countries, including the Allies themselves.
IV. Fighting Alliance of the U.S.S.R., Great Britain and the U.S.A. Against Hitlerite Germany and her Allies in Europe
It may now be considered indisputable that, in the course of the war imposed upon the nations by Hitlerite Germany, a radical demarcation of forces and the formation of two opposite camps have taken place: the camp of the Italo-German coalition and the camp of the Anglo-Soviet-American coalition.
It is equally indisputable that these two opposite coalitions are guided by two different and opposite programmes of action.
The programme of action of the Italo-German coalition may be described by the following points: racial hatred; domination of "chosen" nations; subjugation of other nations and seizure of their territories; economic enslavement of subjugated nations and plunder of their national wealth; destruction of democratic liberties; the institution of the Hitlerite regime everywhere.
The programme of action of the Anglo-Soviet-American coalition is: the abolition of racial exclusiveness; the equality of nations and the inviolability of their territories; the liberation of the enslaved nations and the restoration of their sovereign rights; the right of every nation to arrange its affairs as it wishes; economic aid to the nations that have suffered and assistance to them in achieving their material welfare; the restoration of democratic liberties; the destruction of the Hitlerite regime.
The effect of the programme of action of the Italo-German coalition has been that all the occupied countries of Europe—Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Holland, France, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Greece and the occupied regions of the U.S.S.R.—are burning with hatred for the Italo-German tyranny, are doing all the damage they can to the Germans and their allies and are waiting for a favourable opportunity to take revenge on their enslavers for the humiliations and outrages which they are suffering.
In this connection, one of the characteristic features of the present moment is the progressively growing isolation of the Italo-German coalition and the depletion of its moral and political reserves in Europe, its growing weakness and disintegration.
The effect of the programme of action of the Anglo-Soviet-American coalition has been that all the occupied countries in Europe are full of sympathy for the members of this coalition and are prepared to render them all the help of which they are capable.
In this connection, another characteristic feature of the present moment is that the moral and political reserves of this coalition are growing from day to day in Europe—and not only in Europe—and that this coalition is progressively winning millions of sympathizers ready to join in the fighting against the Hitlerite tyranny.
If the relative strength of these two coalitions is examined from the standpoint of human and material resources, one cannot help reaching the conclusion that the Anglo-Soviet-American coalition has an indisputable advantage.
The question is: is this advantage alone sufficient for victory? There are occasions, as we know, when resources are abundant, but are expended so unwisely that the advantage is nullified. Obviously, what is needed in addition to resources is the capacity to mobilize these resources and the ability to make the correct use of them. Is there any reason for doubting the existence of such ability and such capacity on the part of the men of the Anglo-Soviet-American coalition? There are people who doubt this. But what grounds have they for their doubts? In the past the men of this coalition displayed their ability and capacity to mobilize the resources of their countries and to use them correctly for purposes of economic, cultural and political development. One asks: what grounds are there for doubting that men who have displayed capacity and ability in mobilizing and distributing resources for economic, cultural and political purposes will prove incapable of doing the same thing for purposes of war? I think there are no such grounds.
It is said that the Anglo-Soviet-American coalition has every chance of winning and would certainly win, if it did not have one organic defect which is capable of weakening and disintegrating it. This defect, in the opinion of these people is that this coalition consists of heterogeneous elements with different ideologies and that this circumstance will prevent their organizing joint action against the common enemy.
I think that this assertion is incorrect.
It would be ridiculous to deny the difference in the ideologies and social systems of the countries composing the Anglo-Soviet-American coalition. But does this preclude the possibility and expediency of joint action on the part of the members of this coalition against the common enemy who holds out the threat of enslavement for them? It certainly does not preclude it. More than that, the existence of this threat imperatively imposes the necessity of joint action upon the members of the coalition in order to save mankind from reverting to savagery and mediæval brutality. Is not the programme of action of the Anglo-Soviet-American coalition a sufficient basis for the organization of the joint struggle against Hitlerite tyranny and for the achievement of victory over it? I think that it is quite sufficient.
The assumption of these people is incorrect also because of the fact that it is completely refuted by the events of the past year. Indeed, f these people were right we should be observing a progressive mutual alienation of the members of the Anglo-Soviet-American coalition. Yet, far from observing this, we have facts and events indicative of progressive rapprochement between the members of the Anglo-Soviet-American coalition and their uniting into a single fighting alliance. The events of the past year supply direct proof of this. In July, 1941, several weeks after Germany attacked the U.S.S.R., Great Britain concluded with us an Agreement on "Joint action in the war against Germany." At that time we had not yet any Agreement with the United States of America on this subject. Ten months later, on May 26, 1942, during Comrade Molotov's visit to Great Britain, the latter concluded with us a "Treaty of Alliance in the war against Hitlerite Germany and her associates in Europe and of collaboration and mutual assistance after the war." This Treaty was concluded for a period of twenty years. It marks an historic turning-point in the relations between our country and Great Britain. In June, 1942, during Comrade Molotov's visit to the United States, the United States of America concluded with us an "Agreement on the principles applying to mutual aid in the prosecution of the war against aggression," an Agreement representing an important step forward in the relations between the U.S.S.R. and the United States. Finally, one should mention so important a fact as the visit to Moscow of the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Mr. Churchill, which established complete mutual understanding between the leaders of the two countries. There can be no doubt that all these facts point to a progressive rapprochement between the U.S.S.R., Great Britain and the United States of America, and to their uniting in a fighting alliance against the Italo-German coalition.
It follows that the logic of things is stronger than any other logic. There can be only one conclusion, namely that the Anglo-Soviet-American coalition has every chance of vanquishing the Italo-German coalition and undoubtedly will vanquish it.
V. Our Tasks
The war has torn aside all veils and laid bare all relationships. The situation has become so clear that nothing is easier than to define our tasks in this war.
In an interview with the Turkish general, Erkilet, published in the Turkish newspaper Cumhuriet, that cannibal Hitler said: "We shall destroy Russia so that she will never be able to rise again." This seems clear, although rather ridiculous. (Laughter). We have no such aim as to destroy Germany, for it is impossible to destroy Germany, just as it is impossible to destroy Russia. But the Hitlerite State can and must be destroyed. (Loud applause.)
Our first task, in fact, is to destroy the Hitlerite State and its inspirers. (Loud applause.)
In the same interview with the same general, that cannibal Hitler went on to say: "We shall continue the war until there is no organized military force left in Russia." This seems clear, though illiterate. (Laughter) It is not our aim to destroy all organized military force in Germany, for every literate person will understand that this is not only impossible in regard to Germany, as it is in regard to Russia, but it is also inexpedient from the point of view of the victor. But Hitler's army can and must be destroyed. (Loud applause.)
Our second task, in fact, is to destroy Hitler's army and its leaders. (Loud applause.)
The Hitlerite blackguards have made it a rule to torture Soviet prisoners of war, to kill them by the hundred and to condemn thousands of them to death by starvation. They outrage and murder the civilian population of the occupied territories of our country: men and women, children and old folk, our brothers and sisters. They have made it their aim to enslave and exterminate the population of the Ukraine, Byelorussia, the Baltic Republics, Moldavia, the Crimea and the Caucasus. Only villains and blackguards, devoid of all honour and fallen to the level of beasts, can permit themselves such outrages against innocent, unarmed people. But this is not all. They have covered Europe with gallows and concentration camps. They have introduced the vile system of "hostages"; they shoot and hang absolutely innocent citizens taken as "hostages" because some German beast was prevented from violating women or robbing ordinary people; they have turned Europe into a prison of nations, and this they call the "New Order in Europe." We know who are be men guilty of these outrages, the builders of the "New Order in Europe"—all those newly baked governor-generals or just ordinary governors, commandants and sub-commandants. Their names are known to tens of thousands of tormented people. Let these butchers know that they will not escape responsibility for their crimes or elude the avenging hand of the tormented nations.
Our third task is to destroy the hated "New Order in Europe" and to punish its builders.
Such are our tasks. (Loud applause.)
Comrades, we are waging a great war of liberation. We are not waging it alone, but in conjunction with our allies. It will bring us victory over the vile enemies of mankind, over the German-fascist imperialists. On its banner is inscribed:
Long live the victory of the Anglo-Soviet-American fighting alliance! (Applause.)
Long live the liberation of the peoples of Europe from. Hitler's tyranny! (Applause.)
Long live the liberty and independence of our glorious Soviet Motherland! (Applause.)
Execration and death to the German-fascist invaders, their State, their army, their "New Order in Europe"! (Applause.)
Glory to our Red Army. (Loud applause.)
Glory to our Navy. (Loud applause.)
Glory to our men and women guerillas! (Loud and prolonged applause. All rise.)
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day, No. 345
November 7, 1942
COMRADES, Red Army men, commanders and political workers, men and women guerillas! Working people of the Soviet Union! On behalf of the Soviet Government and our Bolshevik Party, I greet you and congratulate you on this day of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the victory of the great October Socialist Revolution. A quarter of a century ago the workers and peasants, under the leadership of the Party of Bolsheviks and of the great Lenin, established in our country the Power of the Soviets. The peoples of the Soviet Union have traversed a glorious path during this period. In the course of twenty-five years our Motherland has become a mighty Socialist industrial and collective farming power. The peoples of the Soviet State, having won their freedom and independence, united in indissoluble fraternal friendship. The Soviet people were freed from all oppression, and by their stubborn labour ensured for themselves a prosperous and cultured life.
At the present time the peoples of our country are celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the great October Socialist Revolution in the heat of fierce struggle against the German-fascist invaders and their accomplices in Europe.
At the beginning of this year, in the winter period, the Red Army inflicted substantial blows on the German-fascist troops. Having beaten off the attack of the Germans against Moscow, it took the initiative into its hands, passed to the offensive and drove the German troops to the west, liberating a number of regions of our country from German slavery. Thus the Red Army showed that, under certain favourable conditions, it could overcome the German-fascist troops.
In the summer, however, the situation at the front changed for the worse. Utilizing the absence of a second front, the Germans and their allies swept together all their reserves, hurled them against our Ukrainian front and pierced it. At the cost of enormous losses, the German-fascist troops succeeded in advancing in the south and threatening Stalingrad, the Black Sea coast, Grozny and the approaches to the Trans-Caucasus.
True, the steadfastness and courage of the Red Army shattered the plans of the Germans for outflanking Moscow from the east and delivering a blow from the rear against the capital of our country. The enemy was halted at Stalingrad. But, having been halted at Stalingrad, and having already left there tens of thousands of his soldiers and officers, the enemy is throwing new divisions into battle, exerting his last efforts. The struggle on the Soviet-German front is becoming more and more tense. On its outcome depends the fate of the Soviet State, the freedom and independence of our Motherland. Our Soviet people have passed with honour through the ordeals which have fallen to their lot and are filled with unshakable faith in victory. The war has been a stern test of the strength and stability of the Soviet system. The calculations of the German imperialists that the Soviet State would disintegrate have been completely confounded. The socialist industry, the collective farm system, the friendship of the peoples of our country, the Soviet State, have displayed their stability and invincibility. Workers and peasants, all the intelligentsia of our country, our whole rear, are honestly and self-sacrificingly working to satisfy the requirements of our front.
The Red Army is bearing the whole brunt of the war against Hitlerite Germany and its satellites. By its self-sacrificing struggle against the fascist army it has won the love and respect of all freedom-loving peoples of the world. The men and commanders of the Red Army, who previously had not had adequate military experience, have learned to smite the enemy for sure, to destroy his man-power and equipment, to frustrate his hostile plans, and steadfastly to defend our towns and villages from the foreign enslavers. The heroic defenders of Moscow and Tula, Odessa and Sevastopol, Leningrad and Stalingrad displayed examples of supreme courage, iron discipline, steadfastness and the ability to conquer. The whole of our Red Army is on a par with these heroes. The enemy has already felt on his hide the Red Army's capacity for resistance. He will learn still more of the force of the smashing blows of the Red Army.
There can be no doubt that the German invaders will again hurl themselves into new adventures. But the forces of the enemy have already been blunted and strained to the limit. During the course of the war, the Red Army has put out of action over 8,000,000 enemy men and officers. The Hitlerite Army, diluted with Rumanians, Hungarians, Italians and Finns, has now become considerably weaker than in the summer and autumn of 1941.
Comrades, Red Army men, commanders and political workers, men and women guerillas!
On your stubbornness and steadfastness, on your fighting ability and readiness to fulfil your duty to the Motherland depends the rout of the German-fascist army, the clearing of Soviet soil from the Hitlerite invaders!
We can and must clear our Soviet soil of the Hitlerite filth!
To do this it is essential:
1. Steadfastly and stubbornly to defend the line of our front, not to permit the enemy to advance further, with all our strength to wear down the enemy, to exterminate his man power, to destroy his equipment.
2. To strengthen to the utmost degree iron discipline, strict order and single command in our army, to perfect the military training of troops, and to prepare, stubbornly and persistently, a crushing blow against the enemy.
3. To fan the flames of the popular guerilla movement in the rear of the enemy, to devastate the enemy rear, to exterminate the German-fascist blackguards.
Comrades! Once already the enemy has felt the force of the blows of the Red Army at Rostov, at Moscow, at Tikhvin. The day is not far distant when the enemy will feel the force of new blows of the Red Army. There will be rejoicing in our streets.
Long live the twenty-fifth anniversary of the great Socialist October Revolution!
Long live our Red Army!
Long live our Navy!
Long live our glorious men and women guerillas!
Death to the German-fascist invaders!
(Signed) J. Stalin
Moscow
People's Commissar for Defence
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
The Allied Campaign in Africa
Answers to Associated Press Moscow Correspondent
November 13, 1942
The Moscow correspondent of the American News Agency, Associated Press, Mr. Henry Cassidy, addressed to J. V. Stalin, as Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the U.S.S.R., a letter in which he asked for an answer, either verbally or in writing, to three questions of interest to the American public. In reply, Stalin sent Mr. Cassidy the following letter:
Dear Mr. Cassidy—
I am answering your questions which reached me on November 12.
(1) QUESTION: What is the Soviet view of the Allied campaign in Africa?
ANSWER: The Soviet view of this campaign is that it represents an outstanding fact of major importance, demonstrating the growing might of the armed forces of the Allies and opening the prospect of the disintegration of the Italy-German coalition in the nearest future.
The campaign in Africa refutes once more the sceptics who affirm that the Anglo-American leaders are not capable of organizing a serious military campaign. There can be no doubt that only first-rate organizers could carry out such important military operations as the successful landings in North Africa across the ocean, as the rapid occupation of harbours and wide territories from Casablanca to Bougie, and as the smashing of the Italy-German armies in the Western Desert, effected with such mastery.
(2) QUESTION: How effective has this campaign been in relieving pressure on the Soviet Union, and what further aid does the Soviet Union await?
ANSWER: It is yet too soon to say to what extent this campaign has been effective in relieving immediate pressure on the Soviet Union, but it may confidently be said that the effect will not be a small one, and that a certain relief in pressure on the Soviet Union will result in the nearest future.
But this is not the only thing that matters. What matters, first of all, is that, since the campaign in Africa means that the initiative has passed into the hands of our Allies, this campaign radically changes the military and political situation in Europe in favour of the Anglo-Soviet-American coalition. It undermines the prestige of Hitlerite Germany as the leading force in the system of Axis powers and demoralizes Hitler's allies in Europe. It releases France from her state of lethargy, mobilizes the anti-Hitler forces of France and provides a basis for the organization of an anti-Hitler French army. It creates conditions for putting Italy out of commission and for isolating Hitlerite Germany. Finally, it creates the prerequisites for the organization of a second front in Europe nearer to Germany's vital centres, which will be of decisive importance for organizing victory over the Hitlerite tyranny.
(3) QUESTION: What possibility is there of the Soviet offensive power in the East joining the Allies in the West to hasten final victory?
ANSWER: There need be no doubt that the Red Army will fulfil its task with honour, as it has been fulfilling it throughout the whole war.
With respects,
(Signed) J. Stalin
November 13, 1942
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
January 25, 1943
To the Troops on the South-West,
South, Don, North Caucasus,
Voronezh, Kalinin, Volkhov and Leningrad Fronts
As a result of two months of offensive engagements, the Red Army has broken through the defences of the German-fascist troops on a wide front, routed 102 enemy divisions, captured over 200,000 prisoners, 13,000 guns and a large quantity of their war material, and advanced about 400 kilometres (250 miles). Our troops have won an important victory. The offensive of our troops continues.
I congratulate the Red Army men, commanders and political workers of the South-Western, Southern, Don, North Caucasian, Voronezh, Kalinin, Volkhov and Leningrad fronts on their victory over the German-fascist invaders and their allies—the Rumanians, Italians and Hungarians—at Stalingrad, on the Don, in the North Caucasus, at Voronezh, in the Velikie Luki area and south of Lake Ladoga.
I thank the Command and the glorious troops who have routed the Hitlerite armies at the approaches to Stalingrad, who have broken the blockade of Leningrad and liberated from the German invaders the towns of Kantemirovka, Belovodsk, Morozovsky, Millerovo, Starobelsk, Kotelnikovo, Zimovniki, Elista, Salsk, Mozdok, Nalchik, Mineralniye Vody, Pyatigorsk, Stavropol, Armavir, Valuiki, Rossosh, Ostrogozhsk, Velikie Luki, Schluesselburg, Voronezh and many other towns and thousands of populated places.
Forward to the rout of the German invaders and their expulsion from the boundaries of our Motherland!
J. Stalin
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Moscow
January 25, 1943
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day to the Don Front
February 2, 1943
DON FRONT,
To the representative of the H.Q. of the Supreme Command, Marshal of Artillery Voronov, to the Commander of the troops of the Don Front, Col.-Gen. Rokossovsky.
I congratulate you and the troops of the Don Front on the successful completion of the annihilation of the enemy forces surrounded at Stalingrad. I thank all the Red Army men, commanders and political workers of the Don Front for their excellent fighting operations.
J. Stalin
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Moscow
February 2, 1943
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Reply to message from the President of the Mexican Republic — Avi La Camacho
April 22, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Dear Mr. President,
I thank you with all my heart for your greetings and for your important support of the struggle of the Soviet people and army against the Hitlerite invaders who have, threatened our land.
May I ask you, Mr. President, to convey best wishes on behalf of the Soviet people to our friends the Mexican people.
Please accept, dear Mr. Camacho, the assurance of my greatest regard.
J. STALIN
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day, No. 195
May 1, 1943
COMRADES, Red Army and Red Navy men, commanders and political workers, men and women guerillas, working men and women, men and women peasants, people engaged in intellectual work! Brothers and sisters who have temporarily fallen under the yoke of the German oppressors!
In the name of the Soviet Government and of our Bolshevik Party I greet and congratulate you on the occasion of the First of May.
The peoples of our country meet May the First in the stem days of the Patriotic War. They have entrusted their destiny to the Red Army, and their hopes have not been misplaced. The Soviet warriors have stood up self-sacrificingly in defence of their Motherland, and for nearly two years already have been defending the honour and independence of the peoples of the Soviet Union.
During the winter campaign of 1942-43 the Red Army inflicted grave defeats on the Hitlerite troops, annihilated an enormous amount of the enemy's man-power and equipment, surrounded and annihilated two enemy armies at Stalingrad, took prisoner over 300,000 enemy men and officers and liberated hundreds of Soviet towns and thousands of villages from the German yoke.
The winter campaign demonstrated that the offensive power of the Red Army has grown. Our troops not only hurled the Germans out of territory which the enemy had seized in the summer of 1942, but occupied a number of towns and districts which had been in the enemy's hands for about a year and a half. It proved beyond German strength to avert the Red Army's offensive.
Even for its counter-offensive in a narrow sector of the front in the Kharkov area, the Hitlerite command found itself compelled to transfer more than thirty fresh divisions from Western Europe. The Germans calculated on surrounding the Soviet troops in the Kharkov area and on arranging a "German Stalingrad" for our troops. However, the attempt of the Hitlerite command to take revenge for Stalingrad has collapsed.
Simultaneously, the victorious troops of our Allies routed the Italo-German troops in the area of Libya and Tripolitania, cleared these areas of the enemy, and now continue to batter them in the area of Tunisia, while the valiant Anglo-American air forces strike shattering blows at the military and industrial centres of Germany and Italy, foreshadowing the formation of the second front in Europe against the Italo-German fascists.
Thus, for the first time since the beginning of the war, the blow at the enemy from the East, dealt by the Red Army, merged with a blow from the West, dealt by the troops of our Allies, into one joint blow.
All these circumstances taken together have shaken the Hitlerite war machine to its foundations, have changed the course of the world war and created the necessary prerequisites for victory over Hitlerite Germany.
As a result, the enemy was forced to admit a serious aggravation of his position, and raised a hue and cry about a military crisis. True, the enemy tries to disguise his critical situation by clamour about "total" mobilization, but no amount of clamour can do away with the fact that the fascist camp is really going through a grave crisis.
The crisis in the fascist camp finds expression, in the first place, in the fact that the enemy has had openly to renounce his original plan for a "lightning war." Talk about a lightning war is no longer in vogue in the enemy camp—the vociferous babble about lightning war has given place to sad lamentations about the inevitability of a protracted war. While previously the German-fascist command boasted of the tactics of a lightning offensive, now these tactics have been discarded, and the German-fascists boast no more of how they have conducted or are intending to conduct a lightning offensive, but of how they managed skilfully to slip away from under the flanking blow of the British troops in North Africa, or from encirclement by Soviet troops in the area of Demyansk. The fascist Press is full of boastful reports to the effect that the German troops succeeded in making good their escape from the front and avoiding another Stalingrad in one or another sector of the Eastern front or the Tunisian front. Evidently the Hitlerite strategists have nothing else to boast about.
Secondly, the crisis in the fascist camp finds expression in that the fascists begin to speak more frequently about peace. To judge by reports in the foreign Press, one can conclude that the Germans would like to obtain peace with Britain and the U.S.A. on condition that they draw away from the Soviet Union, or, on the contrary, that they would like to obtain peace with the Soviet Union on condition that it draws away from Britain and the U.S.A. Themselves treacherous to the marrow, the German imperialists have the nerve to apply their own yardstick to the Allies, expecting some one of the Allies to swallow the bait. Obviously, it is not on account of good living that the Germans babble about peace. The babble about peace in the fascist camp only indicates that they are going through a grave crisis. But of what kind of peace can one talk with imperialist bandits from the German-fascist camp, who have flooded Europe with blood and covered it with gallows? Is it not clear that only the Litter routing of the Hitlerite armies and the unconditional surrender of Hitlerite Germany can bring peace to Europe? Is it not because the German-fascists sense the coming catastrophe that they babble about peace?
The German and Italian fascist camp is experiencing a grave crisis and faces catastrophe.
This, of course, does not mean that catastrophe has already come for Hitlerite Germany, No, it does not mean that. Hitlerite Germany and her army have been shaken and are experiencing a crisis, but they have not yet been smashed. It would be naïve to think that the catastrophe will come of itself, will drift in with the tide. Another two or three powerful blows from west and east are needed, such as that dealt to the Hitlerite army in the past five or six months, for the catastrophe to become an accomplished fact for Hitlerite Germany.
For this reason the peoples of the Soviet Union and their Red Army, as well as our Allies and their armies, still face a stern and hard struggle for complete victory over the Hitlerite fiends. This struggle will demand of them great sacrifices, enormous staying power, iron staunchness. They must mobilize all their forces and potentialities to smash the enemy and thus blaze the road to peace.
Comrades! The Soviet people displays the greatest solicitude for its Red Army. It is ready to give all its forces for the further strengthening of the military might of the Soviet country. In less than four months the peoples of the Soviet Union have donated more than seven milliard roubles to the Red Army Fund. This demonstrates once more that the war against the Germans is a truly national war of all the peoples inhabiting the Soviet Union. Without folding their hands, staunchly and courageously facing the hardships caused by the war, workers, collective farmers and intellectuals are working in factories and institutions, on transport, in collective farms and State farms. But the war against the German-fascist invaders demands that the Red Army receives still more guns, tanks, aircraft, machineguns, automatic rifles, mortars, ammunition, equipment, provisions. Hence it is necessary that workers, collective farmers and all Soviet intellectuals work with redoubled energy for the front.
It is necessary that all our people and all institutions in the rear work with the efficiency and precision of clockwork. Let us remember the behest of our great Lenin: "Once war has proved inevitable—everything for the war, and the least slackness and lack of energy must be punished by war-time laws."
In return for the confidence and solicitude of its people, the Red Army must strike at the enemy still more strongly, exterminate the German invaders without mercy, uninterruptedly drive them out of our Soviet land. In the course of the war the Red Army has acquired rich military experience. Hundreds of thousands of Red Army men have learned to wield their arms to perfection. Many commanders have learned skilfully to direct troops on the field of action. But it would be unwise to rest at that. Red Army men must learn to wield their arms well, commanders must acquire mastery in the conduct of battles. But even this is not enough. In military matters, and especially in modern warfare, one cannot stand still. To stand still in military matters means to lag behind, and, as is known, those who lag behind are beaten. Therefore, the main point now is that the entire Red Army must day in, day out, perfect its combat training, that all commanders and men of the Red Army must study the experience of the war, must learn to fight in such a manner as is needed for the cause of victory.
Comrades, Red Army and Red Navy men, commanders and political workers, men and women guerillas! While greeting and congratulating you on the occasion of the First of May,
I order:—
(1) that all Red Army men—infantrymen, mortar gunners, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers, signallers, cavalrymen—indefatigably continue to perfect their fighting mastery, to execute precisely the orders of commanders, the requirements of Army regulations and instructions, sacredly to observe discipline, and to maintain organization and order;
(2) that commanders of all units and branches of the service become expert in leading troops, skilfully organize the co-ordination of all arms and direct them in battle; that they study the enemy, improve reconnaissance—the eyes and ears of the army—and remember that without this one cannot beat the enemy for certain; that they raise the efficiency of the work of military headquarters and see that headquarters of Red Army units and formations become exemplary organs for the direction of troops; that they raise the work of the army rear establishments to the level of the requirements of modern warfare, and bear firmly in mind that on the full and timely supply of troops with ammunition, equipment and provisions depends the outcome of combat operations;
(3) that the whole Red Army consolidates and develops the successes of the winter battles, that it does not surrender to the enemy a single inch of our soil, that it be prepared for decisive battles with the German-fascist invaders, displaying in defence the stubbornness and staunchness inherent in soldiers of our army, and in attack, resolution, correct co-ordination of troops and bold manœuvre on the field of action, crowned by the encirclement and annihilation of the enemy;
(4) that men and women guerillas strike powerful blows at enemy rear establishments, communications, military stores, headquarters and factories, destroy the enemy's lines of communication; that they draw wide strata of the Soviet population in the areas occupied by the enemy into active struggle for liberation, and thus save Soviet citizens from being driven away to German slavery and from extermination by the Hitlerite beasts; that they take merciless revenge on the German invaders for the blood and tears of our wives and children, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters; that they assist the Red Army heart and soul in its struggle with the base Hitlerite enslavers.
Comrades!
The enemy has already felt the weight of the shattering blows of our troops. The time is approaching when the Red Army, together with the armies of our Allies, will break the backbone of the fascist beast.
Long live our glorious Motherland!
Long live our valiant Red Army!
Long live our valiant Navy!
Long live our gallant men and women guerillas!
Death to the German invaders!
(Signed) J. Stalin
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Moscow
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Polish-Soviet Relations
Answers to The Times and New York Times Correspondent
May 4, 1943
The Moscow correspondent of the London Times and the New York Times, Mr. Ralph Parker, addressed a letter to the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the U.S.S.R., Marshal Stalin, in which he asked for answers to two questions of interest to the British and American public. Stalin replied with the following letter:
DEAR MR. PARKER,
On May 3 I received your two questions concerning Polish-Soviet relations. Here are my answers:
QUESTION 1: Does the Government of the U.S.S.R. desire to see a strong and independent Poland after the defeat of Hitlerite Germany?
ANSWER: Unquestionably, it does.
QUESTION 2: On what fundamentals is it your opinion that relations between Poland and the U.S.S.R. should be based after the war?
ANSWER: Upon the fundamentals of solid good neighbourly relations and mutual respect, or, should the Polish people so desire upon the fundamentals of alliance providing for mutual assistance against the Germans as the chief enemies of the Soviet Union and Poland.
With respect,
(Signed) J. Stalin
May 4, 1943
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Cables to Mr. Churchill and Mr. Roosevelt
on the North African Victory
May 7, 1943
On the night of May 7-8, J. V. Stalin, as Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the U.S.S.R., sent the following cables to the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Mr. Winston Churchill, and the President of the United States, Mr. Franklin D. Roosevelt:
To the Prime Minister, Mr. Winston Churchill, London,
I congratulate you and the valiant British and American troops on the brilliant victory which has resulted in the liberation of Bizerta and Tunis from Hitler's tyranny. I wish you further successes.
J. Stalin
To President Roosevelt, Washington,
I congratulate you and the valiant American and British troops on the brilliant victory which has resulted in the liberation of Bizerta and Tunis from Hitler's tyranny. I wish you further successes.
J. Stalin
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
The Dissolution
of the Communist International
Answer to Reuter's Correspondent
May 28, 1943
Mr. Harold King, Moscow correspondent of Reuter's Agency, addressed a letter to J. V. Stalin, Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the U.S.S.R., in which he requested an answer to a question of interest to the British public. Marshal Stalin replied with the following letter:
DEAR MR. KING,—I have received your request to answer a question referring to the dissolution of the Communist International. I am sending you my answer.
QUESTION: British comment on the decision to dissolve the Comintern has been very favourable. What is the Soviet view of this matter and of its bearing on future international relations?
ANSWER: The dissolution of the Communist International is proper and timely because it facilitates the organization of the common onslaught of all freedom-loving nations against the common enemy—Hitlerism.
The dissolution of the Communist International is proper because:
(a) It exposes the lie of the Hitlerites to the effect that "Moscow" allegedly intends to intervene in the life of other nations and to "Bolshevize" them. From now on an end is put to this lie.
(b) It exposes the calumny of the adversaries of Communism within the Labour movement to the effect that Communist Parties in various countries are allegedly acting not in the interests of their people but on orders from outside. From now on an end is also put to this calumny.
(c) It facilitates the work of patriots of all countries for uniting the progressive forces of their respective countries, regardless of party or religious faith, into a single camp of national liberation—for unfolding the struggle against fascism.
(d) It facilitates the work of patriots of all countries for uniting all freedom-loving peoples into a single international camp for the fight against the menace of world domination by Hitlerism, thus clearing the way for the future organization of a companionship of nations based upon their equality.
I think that all these circumstances taken together will result in a further strengthening of the United Front of the Allies and other united nations in their fight for victory over Hitlerite tyranny.
I feel that the dissolution of the Communist International is perfectly timely—because it is exactly now, when the fascist beast is exerting its last strength, that it is necessary to organize the common onslaught of freedom-loving countries to finish off this beast and to deliver the people from fascist oppression.
With respect,
(Signed) J. Stalin
May 28, 1943
Stalin Archive | Comintern Archive
War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Stalin's Reply to the Union of Polish Patriots
June 17, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
J. V. Statin has sent the following reply to a message sent him by the Presidium of the Congress of Polish Patriots, held recently in Moscow :
"I thank you for your warm and friendly message to the Soviet Government. I warmly greet you and the Union of Polish Patriots in the U.S.S.R., who have begun the successful work of uniting your forces and strengthening the friendship between the peoples of Poland and the Soviet Union.
"You can be sure that the Soviet Union will do all that is possible in order to speed the defeat of our common enemy, Hitlerite Germany, to strengthen Polish-Soviet friendship, and by every possible means to aid the creation of a strong and independent Poland.
"I wish you success in your work."
(Signed) J. STALIN
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Marshal Stalin's Thanks
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
J.. V. Statin has sent the following replies to messages of greeting addressed to him on the second anniversary of the outbreak of the Soviet-German War : —
TO PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
I thank you for your high estimation of the determination and courage of the Soviet people and their armed forces in their struggle against the Hitlerite invaders. As a result of the Soviet Union's two years' struggle against Hitlerite' Germany and its vassals, and of the serious blows inflicted by the Allies on the Italian and German armies in North Africa, the conditions have been created for the final defeat of our common enemy. The sooner we strike our joint, united blows against the enemy from the East and from the West, the sooner victory will come. Of this I have no doubt.
TO GENERAL DE GAULLE AND GENERAL GIRAUD
I thank you and the French Committee of National Liberation for your greetings on the occasion of the second anniversary of the war of liberation of the Soviet Union against the Hitlerite invaders. The Soviet people are filled with profound sympathy for the courageous struggle against Hitlerite oppression and the efforts which the finest people of France and its restored armed forces are making towards the restoration and rebirth of France. The Soviet people are confident that the joint efforts of the Allies will culminate in complete and final victory over our common enemy.
TO GENERAL CHIANG KAI SHEK
I thank you for your greetings on the occasion of the second anniversary of the patriotic war of the Soviet people against Hitlerite aggression. Kindly accept my recognition of your high estimation of the successes of the Red A-rmy in the struggle against the perfidious enemy, who has won the universal hatred of all freedom-loving peoples.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
Addressed to Army-Generals
Rokossovsky and Yatutin and Colonel-General Popov
July 24, 1943
YESTERDAY, on July 23, as the result of the successful operations of our troops, the complete liquidation of the German July offensive was accomplished in the areas south of Orel and north of Byelgorod in the direction of Kursk.
On the morning of July 5 the German-fascist troops, with large forces of tanks and infantry, supported by large air forces, passed to the offensive in the Orel-Kursk and Byelgorod-Kursk directions. The Germans hurled into attack against our troops their main forces, concentrated in the areas of Orel and Byelgorod.
As is now clear, the German Command sent into action: in the Orel-Kursk direction—seven tank, two motorized and eleven infantry divisions; and in the Byelgorod-Kursk direction—ten tank, one motorized and seven infantry divisions. Thus altogether the enemy hurled into attack seventeen tank, three motorized and eighteen German infantry divisions.
Concentrating these forces on narrow sectors of the front, the German Command reckoned, by concentric blows from the north and from the south in the general direction towards Kursk, on piercing our defences, and on encircling and wiping out our troops stationed along the arc of the Kursk salient.
This new German offensive did not take our troops unawares. They were prepared not only to repulse the German offensive, but also to deal mighty counter-blows. At the cost of tremendous losses in man-power and equipment, the enemy succeeded in driving a wedge into our defences to a depth of about nine kilometres (six miles) in the Orel-Kursk direction and of 15 to 35 kilometres (10 to 22 miles) in the Byelgorod-Kursk direction.
In fierce engagements our troops wore down and bled white the picked German divisions, and followed this up by violent counterblows by which they not only hurled back the enemy and completely restored the position they had occupied before July 5, but also broke through the enemy's defences and advanced 15 to 25 kilometres (10 to 16 miles) towards Orel.
The battles fought for the liquidation of the German offensive have demonstrated the high military skill of our troops. Unprecedented examples of stubbornness, steadfastness and heroism have been displayed by the men and commanders of all arms, including artillery and mortar gunners, tankmen and airmen.
Thus the German plan for a summer offensive can be considered as having failed completely. Thus the legend that in a summer offensive the Germans are always successful, and that the Soviet troops are compelled to retreat, is refuted.
In the fighting for the liquidation of the German offensive, the troops of Lt.-Gen. Pukhov, Lt.-Gen. Galinin, Lt.-Gen. of Tank Forces Rodin, Lt.-Gen. Romanenko, Lt.-Gen. Kolpakchi, Lt.-Gen. Chistyakov, Lt.-Gen. of Tank Forces Katukov, Lt.-Gen. of Tank Forces Rotmistrov, Lt.-Gen. Zhadov, Lt.-Gen. Shumilov, Lt.-Gen. Kryuchenkin, and airmen of air formations under Col.-Gen. of Aviation Golovanov, Lt.-Gen. of Aviation Krasovsky, Lt.-Gen. of Aviation Rudenko and Lt.-Gen. of Aviation Naumenko, particularly distinguished themselves.
During the engagements from July 5-23, the enemy suffered the following losses: Officers and men killed, over 70,000; tanks destroyed or disabled, 2,900; self-propelling guns, 195; field guns, 844; planes destroyed, 1,392; and motor vehicles, over 5,000.
I congratulate you and the troops under your command on the successful liquidation of the German summer offensive. I express my gratitude to all men, commanders and political workers of the troops under your command for their excellent operations.
Immortal glory to the heroes who fell in the fight for the freedom and honour of our Motherland!
(Signed) J. Stalin
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Moscow
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
Addressed to Colonel-Generals Popov, Sokolovsky,
and Koniev, and Army-Generals Rokossovsky and Vatutin
August 5, 1943
TO-DAY, August 5, the troops on the Bryansk front, with the support on their flanks of the troops of the Western and Central fronts, as a result of violent engagements captured the town of Orel.
To-day also the troops of the Steppe and Voronezh fronts broke the resistance of the enemy and captured the town of Byelgorod.
One month ago, on July 5, the Germans began their summer offensive from the areas of Orel and Byelgorod in order to surround and wipe out our troops in the Kursk salient and to occupy Kursk. Repulsing all attempts of the enemy to break through to Kursk from the direction of Orel and Byelgorod, our troops themselves went over to the offensive and on August 5, exactly one month after the beginning of the July offensive of the Germans, re-occupied Orel and Byelgorod. Thus the German myth that the Soviet troops are allegedly incapable of waging a successful offensive in the summer has now been dispelled.
To commemorate the victories won, the 5th, 129th and 380th Infantry Divisions, which were the first to break into the town of Orel and liberate it, will be named Orel Divisions, and henceforth they will be named the 5th Orel Infantry Division, the 129th Orel Infantry Division, the 380th Orel Infantry Division.
The 89th Guards and 305th Infantry Divisions, which were the first to break into the town of Byelgorod and to liberate it, will be named Byelgorod Divisions and will henceforth be named the 89th Guards Byelgorod Infantry Division and the 305th Byelgorod Infantry Division.
To-day, August 5, at 24.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our country, Moscow, will salute our valiant troops who liberated Orel and Byelgorod with 12 salvoes from 120 guns.
For excellent offensive operations I express my thanks to all the troops commanded by you who took part in the operations to liberate Orel and Byelgorod.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fight for the freedom of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
(Signed) J. Stalin
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Moscow
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 15, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin
On August 15, this year, as a result of our stiff fighting, the 16th and 84th Guards Infantry Divisions and the 238th and 369th Infantry Divisions liberated the town of Kara-chev from the German invaders, and in so doing displayed examples of courage and skilful fighting operations.
To mark the success they achieved, the name of Karachev shall be conferred on the 16th and 84th Guards Infantry Divisions, and the 238th arid 369th Infantry Divisions which liberated the town of Karachev. Henceforth they shall be named as follows: the 16th Karachev Guards Infantry Division, the 84th Karachev Guards Infantry Division, the 238th Karachev Infantry Division, the 369th Karachev Infantry Division.
(Signed) STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 23, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin, Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
and addressed to the Colonel-General Koniev, Army General Vatutin and Army General Malinovsky
To-day, August 23, the troops of the Steppe Front, with the active assistance of the troops of the Voronezh and south-western fronts on the flanks, as a result of fierce engagements, crushed enemy resistance and captured the city of Kharkov by storm. Thus the second capital of the Ukraine, our own Kharkov, has been liberated from the yoke of the German-fascist blackguards.
In offensive engagements for the capture of the city of Kharkov our troops displayed a high degree of military training, valour and skill in manoeuvring. Troops under the command of Major-General Managarov, Lieutenant-General Kriuchenkin, Lieutenant-General Shumil-ov, Lieutenant-General Gagen and Lieutenant-General of Tank Troops Rotmistrov and airmen commanded by Lieutenant-General of Aviation Goryunov distinguished themselves in the fighting for the city of Kharkov, also units of the 33rd Infantry Corps of Guards under the command of Major-General Kozlov and the 34th Infantry Corps under the command of Major-Gen-eral Kolchigin.
To mark the liberation of Kharkov the name "Kharkov" is conferred on the 89th Byelgorod Infantry Division of Guards, the 252nd, 84th, 299th, 116th, 375th and 183rd Infantry Divisions and the 15th, 28th and 93rd Infantry Divisions of Guards, and henceforth they are named: the 89th Byelgorod-Kharkov Infantry Division of Guards, the 252nd Kharkov Infantry Division, the 84th Kharkov Infantry Division, the 116th Kharkov Infantry Division, the 183rd Kharkov Infantry Division, the 15th Kharkov Infantry Division of Guards, the 28th Kharkov Infantry Division of Guards and the 93rd Kharkov Infantry Division of Guards.
As a mark of celebration of the occasion of the victory achieved at Kharkov, to-day August 23, at 21.00, the capital of our Motherland - Moscow - will salute on behalf of the Motherland, with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns, our gallant troops which liberated Kharkov.
For the splendid offensive operations I thank all troops under your command which took part in the operation for the liberation of Kharkov. Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fight for the liberty and independence of our Motherland.
Death to the German invaders!
STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 30, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Statin, and addressed to Colonel-General Tolbukhin
As a result of violent battles, the troops of the southern front have routed the Germans' Taganrog grouping and to-day, August 30, captured the town of Taganrog. This new victory gained by our troops in the South was achieved as a result of a bold manoeuvre by cavalry and mechanized formations which broke through into the rear of the enemy troops. As a result of the operation our troops have completely liberated the Rostov Region from the German invaders.
In the fighting for the liberation of the Rostov Region and the town of. Taganrog, Kuban Cossack cavalry under Guards Lieutenant-General Kirichenko, the Stalingrad tankmen under Guards Lieutenant-General of tank troops Tanashikhin, troops under Lieutenant-General Tzvetayev, Lieutenant-General Zakharov, Lieutenant -General Gerasimenko and Lieutenant-General Khomenko, and airmen under Lieutenant-General of Aviation Khryukin, particularly distinguished themselves.
To commemorate the liberation of the Rostov Region and the town of Taganrog, the name of Taganrog Divisions will be conferred upon the 130th Infantry Division and the 416th Infantry Division, composed of Azerbaidjanians. These divisions will henceforth be known as the 13Qth Taganrog Infantry Division and the 416th Taganrog Infantry Division.
In honour of the victory at Taganrog today, August 30, at 19.30 Moscow time, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, will salute with twelve artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops which have liberated the Rostov Region and the town of Taganrog.
For the excellent military operations, I express my thanks to all the troops led by you which have taken part in the operation for the liberation of the Rostov Region and the town of Taganrog, and above all to the 130th Taganrog Infantry Division commanded by Colonel Sychov, the 416th Taganrog Infantry Division commanded by Colonel Syzranov, the 15th Mechanized Brigade commanded by Major Tatirov, the 6th Guards Tank Brigade commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Zhidkov, the 32nd Guards Tank Brigade commanded by Colonel Grinevich, the 4th Mechanized Brigade commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Yepanshin, the 9th Guards Kuban Cavalry Division commanded by Major-General Tatarinov, the 30th Cavalry Division commanded by Major-General Golovsky, the 31st Guards Infantry Corps commanded by Major-General Ut-venko, the Guards Machine-Guns Artillery Battalions of the first fortified area commanded by Colonel Dakhteyev, the 2nd Guards Artillery Division commanded by Colonel Alekseyev, the 236th Air Fighter Division commanded by Colonel Kudryashev, the 270th Air Bomber Division commanded by Colonel Chuchev, the 9th Guards Air Ffighter Regiment commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Morozov, and the 31st Guards Air Fighter Regiment commanded by Major Yeremin.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fight for the freedom of our Motherland! Death to the German invaders!
STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 31, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issues by Marshal Stalin and Addressed to Army General Sokolvsky
Troops of the western front recently broke through the strongly fortified enemy defence line and, developing their offensive in the Smolensk direction, yesterday, August 30th, captured the' town of Yelnya, a strategically important large junction of roads and the most important centre of resistance of the enemy defences in the Smolensk direction.
In the fighting for the town of Yelnya the following distinguished themselves: Guards tankmen commanded by Major-General Burdeinov, troops commanded by Lieutenant-General Gordov, by Major-General Krylov, by Lieutenant-General Trubnikov, airmen commanded by Marshal of Aviation Golovanov and Lieutenant-General of Aviation Gromov.
To mark the victory won .by our troops at the town of Yelna, the name of Yelna will be conferred on the 29th Guards Red Banner Infantry Division, the 25th Tank Brigade, the 26th Tank Brigade, the 23rd Guards Independent Tank Brigade and the 119th Independent Tank Regiment, which distinguished themselves in the fighting for the town of Yelna. They will henceforth be named the 29th Guards Red Banner Yelna Infantry Division, the 76th Yelna Infantry Division, the 25th Yelna Tank Brigade, the 26th Yelna Tank Brigade, the 23rd Guards Yelna Independent Tank Brigade.
In the name of our country, our capital Moscow, to-day, August 31, at 19.00 hours Moscow time, will salute with twelve artillery salvoes from 124 guns our glorious troops who have won victory at the town of Yelna.
For distinguished military service and skilful manoeuvring I express my thanks to all the troops you command who participated in ' the operations in the Smolensk direction, and above all for the skilful operations by the 29th Guards Red Banner Yelna Infantry Division commanded by Lieutenant-General Stuch-enko, to the 26th Yelna Infantry Division commanded by Colonel Babayan, the 25th Yelna Tank Brigade commanded by Colonel Shevchenko, the 26th Yelna Brigade commanded by Colonel Nester-ov, the 23rd Guards Yelna Independent Tank Brigade commanded by Colonel Kalinin, the 119th Yelna Independent Tank Regiment commanded by' Lieutenant-Colonel Losik and the 63rd Infantry Division commanded by Colonel Lapkin.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fight for the freedom and honour of our Motherland! Death to the German invaders!
(Signed) STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 31, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issues by Marshal Stalin and Addressed to Army General Rokossovsky
Troops of the Central Front, breaking through strongly fortified enemy defence lines in the area of Sevsk by a decisive attack, on August 30 captured the town of Glukhov and Rylsk and entered the Northern Ukraine.
In the fighting for the liberation of the towns of Sevsk, Glukhov and Rylsk from the German invaders, the troops which distinguished themselves were Guards tankmen commanded by, Lieutenant-General of Tank Troops Korchagin, tankmen commanded by Major-General Ruchenko, troops commanded by Lieutenant-General Cherny-kovsky, Lieutenant-General Batov, and Lieutenant-General of Tank Troops Bogdanov, and airmen commanded by Lieutenant-General of Aviation Rudenko.
To mark the victory they have won, the divisions and artillery formations which exceptionally distinguished themselves in the fighting for Glukhov, Rylsk and Sevsk are to have the following titles conferred upon them. The name of "Glukhov" is to be conferred on the 70th Guards Red Banner Infantry Division, the 226th Infantry Division, the 23rd Tank Brigade and the 1st Guards Artillery Division.
The name of "Rylsk" is to be conferred on the 121st Infantry Division and the 112th Infantry Division.
The name of "Sevsk" is to be conferred on the 69th Red Banner Infantry Division, the 103rd Tank Brigade, the 43rd Motorized Brigade, the 255th Independent Tank Regiment, the 68th Heavy Artillery Brigade and the 100th Red Banner Heavy Artillery Brigade.
Henceforth these formations are to be named the 70th Guards Red Banner Glukhov Infantry Division, the 226th Glukhov Infantry Division, the 23rd Glukhov Tank Brigade, the 1st Glukhov Guards Artillery Division, the 121st Rylsk Infantry Division, the 112th Rylsk Infantry Division, the 69th Red Banner Sevsk Infantry Division, the 60th Sevsk Infantry Division, the 103rd Sevsk Tank Brigade, the 43rd Sevsk Motorized Brigade, the 255th Sevsk Independent Tank Regiment, the 68th Sevsk Heavy Artillery Brigade and the 100th Red Banner Sevsk Heavy Artillery Brigade.
In the name of our country, our capital Moscow will to-day, August 31, at 20.30 Moscow time, salute our glorious troops who liberated the towns of Glukhov, Rylsk and Sevsk, with twelve artillery salvoes from 124 guns.
For distinguished military services and skilful operations I express my thanks to all troops led by you who have taken part in the fighting for Sevsk, Glukhov and Rylsk, and above all to the 70th Guards Red Banner Glukhov Infantry Division commanded by General Butev, the 226th Glukhov Infantry Division commanded by Colonel Vitrenko, the 1st Guards Glukhov Artillery Division commanded by Major-General of Artillery Godin, the 23rd Glukhov Tank Brigade commanded by Colonel Demidov, the 121st Rylsk Infantry Division commanded by Major-General Ladygln, the 112th Rylsk Infantry Division commanded by Colonel Gladkov, the 69th Red Banner Sevsk Infantry Division commanded by Colonel Kuzadkov, the 60th Sevsk Infantry Division commanded by. Colonel Babilensky,,. the 103rd Sevsk Tank Brigade commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Khalayev, the 103rd Sevsk Motorized Brigade commanded Major-General Barinov, the 655th Sevsk Independent Tank Regiment commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Mukin, the 68th Sevsk Heavy Artillery Brigade commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Vassilev, the 100th Red Banner Sevsk Heavy Artillery Brigade commanded by Colonel Kuznetsov, the 6th. Guards Infantry Division., commanded by Major-General Ahoprienko, the 322nd Infantry Division commanded by Colonel Losenko, the 150th Independent Tank Brigade commanded by Lieutenant-General Griumov, the 178th Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment commanded by Colonel Fedov, and air formations commanded by Major-General of Aviation Denisov, Major-General . of Aviation Antoshin, Major-General of Aviation Kravatsky, Colonel Komarov and Colonel Budilev.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fight for the freedom and independence of our Motherland! Death to the German invaders!
Troops of the western front recently broke through the strongly fortified enemy defence line and, developing their offensive in the Smolensk direction, yesterday, August 30th, captured the' town of Yelnya, a strategically important large junction of roads and the most important centre of resistance of the enemy defences in the Smolensk direction.
In the fighting for the town of Yelnya the following distinguished themselves: Guards tankmen commanded by Major-General Burdeinov, troops commanded by Lieutenant-General Gordov, by Major-General Krylov, by Lieutenant-General Trubnikov, airmen commanded by Marshal of Aviation Golovanov and Lieutenant-General of Aviation Gromov.
To mark the victory won .by our troops at the town of Yelna, the name of Yelna will be conferred on the 29th Guards Red Banner Infantry Division, the 25th Tank Brigade, the 26th Tank Brigade, the 23rd Guards Independent Tank Brigade and the 119th Independent Tank Regiment, which distinguished themselves in the fighting for the town of Yelna. They will henceforth be named the 29th Guards Red Banner Yelna Infantry Division, the 76th Yelna Infantry Division, the 25th Yelna Tank Brigade, the 26th Yelna Tank Brigade, the 23rd Guards Yelna Independent Tank Brigade.
In the name of our country, our capital Moscow, to-day, August 31, at 19.00 hours Moscow time, will salute with twelve artillery salvoes from 124 guns our glorious troops who have won victory at the town of Yelna.
For distinguished military service and skilful manoeuvring I express my thanks to all the troops you command who participated in ' the operations in the Smolensk direction, and above all for the skilful operations by the 29th Guards Red Banner Yelna Infantry Division commanded by Lieutenant-General Stuch-enko, to the 26th Yelna Infantry Division commanded by Colonel Babayan, the 25th Yelna Tank Brigade commanded by Colonel Shevchenko, the 26th Yelna Brigade commanded by Colonel Nester-ov, the 23rd Guards Yelna Independent Tank Brigade commanded by Colonel Kalinin, the 119th Yelna Independent Tank Regiment commanded by' Lieutenant-Colonel Losik and the 63rd Infantry Division commanded by Colonel Lapkin.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fight for the freedom and honour of our Motherland! Death to the German invaders!
(Signed) STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 2, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issues by Marshal Stalin and Addressed to Army General Vatutin
To-day, on September 2, our troops of the Voronezh front captured, in fighting, the important regional centre of the Ukraine, the town of Sumy.
In the offensive engagements for the liberation of the town of Sumy from the German invaders, troops under the command of Lieutenant General Chibissov distinguished themselves, particularly the 340th Infantry Division under the command of Colonel Zubarev, the 167th Infantry Division under Major-General Melnikov and the 232nd Infantry Division under the command of Major-General Ulitin.
To commemorate the success achieved, the 340th, 167th, and 232nd Infantry Divisions shall be named "Sumy" Divisions and will be called in future the 340th Sumy Infantry Division, the 167th Sumy Infantry Division and the 232nd Sumy Infantry Division.
To-day, September 2, at 20.00 hours Moscow time, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, will, in the name of the Motherland, salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns the gallant troops which liberated the town of Sumy.
I express my gratitude to all the troops commanded by you which participated in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Sumy, for their excellent military operations and valour.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fight for the freedom of our Motherland! Death to the German invaders!
STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 8, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issues by Marshal Stalin and Addressed to Army General Malinkovsky and Colonel-General Tolbukhin
The troops of the southern and south-western fronts, as a result of skilful manoeuvre and forceful offensive, have won a great victory in the Donets Basin over the German invaders. Having broken the enemy's resistance our troops in the course of six days captured, in fighting, the towns of Debaltsevo, Ilovaisk, Lisichansk, Yenakievo, Gorlovka, Chistyakovo, Slavyansk, Artemovsk, Kramatorskaya, Konstantinovka, Makeyevka, Krasnoarmeiskoye, Yasinovataya and the Regional Centre of the Donbas, the town of Stalino. Thus the troops of the south-western fronts have wrested from the Germans and returned to our Motherland the Donets Basin, the most important coal and industrial region of our country.
In the battle for the Donbas the troops of Lieutenant-General Svetayev, Lieutenant-General Kreiser, Lieutenant-General Lelyushenko, Lieutenant-General Zakharov, Major-General Zherybin, Major-General Makochuk, Major-General Belov, Major-General Roseyi, and airmen under the command of Lieutenant-General of Aviation Sudev, Lieutenant-General of Aviation Khryukin, distinguished themselves; and in particular, the 126th Infantry Division (Colonel Kazartsev), 127th Infantry Division (Colonel Krimov), 271st Infantry Division (Colonel Govorov), 346th Infantry Division (Major-General Stankevsky), 266th Infantry Division (Colonel Rebrikov), 279th Infantry Division (Major-General Potapenko), 259th Infantry Division (Colonel Vlassenko), 50th Guards Infantry Division (Colonel Vladichansky), 301st Infantry Division (Colonel Antonov), 230th Infantry Division (Colonel Ukrainsky), 54th Guards Infantry Division (Major-General Danilov), 297th Infantry Division (Colonel Matveyev), 61st ' Guards Infantry Division (Colonel Lazanovich), 59th Guards Infantry Division (Major-General Karamishev), 34th Guards Infantry Division (Colonel Brailyan), 40th Guards Infantry Division (Colonel Ponomarev), 320th Infantry Division (Major-General Shivgin), 96th Guards Infantry Division (Colonel Levin), 5th Guards Independent Motorized Infantry Brigade (Colonel Bugayev), 135th Tank Brigade (Lieutenant-Colonel Beznoschenko), 179th Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment (Major Savchenko),243rd Independent Tank Regiment.(Major Podlesnov).
In commemoration of the victory of the troops which distinguished themselves in the liberation of the Donbas, the following formations and units will take the name of :
"Stalino" - the 50th. Guards Infantry Division, the 301st Infantry Division, the 230th Infantry Division.
"Yenakievo" - the 34th Guards Infantry Division, the 40th Infantry Division, the 320th Infantry Division.
"Ilovaisk" - the 96th Guards Infantry Division.
"Chistyakovo" - the 127th Infantry Division.
"Gorlovka" - the 126th Infantry Division, the 271st Infantry Division.
"Debaltsevo" - the 346th Infantry Division.
"Artemovsk" - the 266th Infantry Division, the 259th Infantry Division.
"Lisichansk" - the 279th Infantry Division.
"Koanstantinovka" - the 135th Tank Brigade, the 179th Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment.
"Makeyevka" - the 54th Guards Infantry Division.
"Slavyansk" - the 61st Guards Infantry Division, the 279th Infantry Division. "Kramatorskaya" - the 59th Guards Infantry Division, the 5th Guards Independent Motorised Infantry Brigade and the 243rd Independent Tank Regiment.
Henceforth these formations and units shall be called:
The 50th Stalino Guards Division, the 301st Stalino Infantry Division, the 230th Stalino Infantry Division; the 34th Yenakievo Guards Infantry Division, the 40th Yenakievo Guards Infantry Division, the 320th Yenakievo Infantry Division; the 96th Ilovaisk Guards Infantry Division; the 127th Chistyakovo Infantry Division; the 126th Gorlovka Infantry Division, the 271st Gorlovka Infantry Division; the 346th Delbatsevo Infantry Division; the 266th Artemovsk Infantry Division, the 259th Artemovsk Infantry Division; the 279th Lisich-ansk Infantry Division; the 135th Konstantin-ovka Tank Brigade, the 179th Konstantinovka Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment; the 54th Makeyev-ka Guards Infantry Division; the 61st Slavyansk Guards Infantry Division, the 297th Slavyansk Infantry Division; the 59th Kramatorskaya Guards Infantry Division, the 5th Kramatorskaya Guards Independent Motorised Infantry Brigade, the 243rd Kramatorskaya Independent Tank Regiment.
As a mark of triumph on the occasion of this great victory in the Donbas, at 20.00 hours to-day, September 8, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, salutes with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops who have liberated the Donbas from the German invaders.
For distinguished battle operations, I express my thanks to all the troops led by you who have participated in the liberation of the Donbas.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fight for the Donbas, for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 9, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
lssued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Rokossovsky
Troops of the Central Front, continuing their sweeping offensive, forced the River Seym, and on September 6 liberated from the German invader the town of Konotop. To-day, September 9, after two days of fierce fighting, our troops took by storm the town of Bakhmach, a most important railway junction, centre of enemy communications, and decisive enemy defence centre in the Kiev direction.
In the fighting for the towns of Konotop and Bakhmach, troops under the command of Lt. General Chernyahovsky, Lt-General Bondarev, Major-General P.M. Kozlov and airmen under the command of Lt.-General of Aviation Rudenko, distinguished themselves, and especially the 132nd Infantry Division commanded by Major-General Shkrylev, the 143rd Infantry Division commanded by Colonel Lukin, the 280th Infantry Division commanded by Major-General Golosov, the 70th Guards Glukhov Infantry Division commanded by Major-General Gusev, the 75th Guards Infantry Division led by Major-General Gorishchnov, the 221st Air Bomber Division commanded by Colonel Buzylev, the 3rd Guards Light Artillery Brigade commanded by Lt. Colonel Zhigala, the 56th Guards Mortar Regiment commanded by Lt.-Colonel Shapovalov and the 65th Guards Mortar Regiment commanded by Major Pavlov.
In honour of the victory achieved, the formations and units which distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of the towns of Konotop and Bakhmach are to bear the names of Konotop and Bakhmach. The name of Konotop is to be conferred on the 143rd Infantry Division, the 280th Infantry Division, and the 65th Guards Mortar Regiment.
The name of Bakhmach is to be conferred on the 75th Guards Infantry Division, the 132nd Infantry Division, the 221st Air Bomber Division, the 3rd Guards Light Artillery Brigade, the 56th Guards Mortar Regiment. Henceforth these formations and units are to be known as:
The 143rd Konotop Infantry Division; the 280th Konotop Infantry Division; the 65th Guards Konotop Mortar Regiment; the 75th Guards Bakhmach Infantry Division; the 132nd Bakhmach Infantry Division; the 221st Bakhmach Air Bomber Division; the 3rd Guards Bakhmach Light Artillery Brigade; the 56th Guards Bakhmach Mortar Regiment.
The 70th Guards Glukhov Infantry Division, which for the second time has distinguished itself in the fighting against the German invaders, is to be proposed for the award of the Order of the Red Banner.
To-day, September 9, at 20.00 hours Moscow time our capital, Moscow, in the- name of our Motherland will salute with twelve artillery salvoes from 124 guns our glorious troops who have liberated Konotop and Bakhmach.
For distinguished fighting, operations, I express my thanks to all the troops led by you who participated in the battles for Konotop and Bakhmach.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fight for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 10, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Malinovsky and Colonel-General Tolbukhin
Our troops of the south-west front, continuing their successful offensive, to-day, September 10, captured the town of Barvenkovo and the" town and most important railway junction of Chaplino.
To-day also our troops of the southern front, by a violent blow, captured the most important junction of the Azov railway lines, Volnovakha, and advancing along the coast of the Azov sea, liberated from the German invaders the large centre of the metal industry of the south, the town and port of Mariupol. This new success was achieved by our troops in the south as a result of a daring manoeuvre of our cavalry and mechanized troops which broke through into the rear of the German troops.
In the fighting for the towns of Mariupol, Barvenkovo, Volnovakha and Chaplino the following troops distinguished themselves:
The Don Cossack cavalrymen under Major-Gerneral Selivanov, tankmen under Lieutenant-General of Tank Forces Pushkin and Lieutenant-General Russyanov, the troops under the command of Lieutenant-General Chuikov, Lieutenant-General Lelyushenko, Lieutenant-General Khomenko, airmen under Lieutenant-General of Aviation Sudets, Lieutenant-General of Aviation Khryuk-in, Major-General of Aviation Tupikov and sailors under the command of Rear-Admiral Gorshkov, who landed forces west of Mariupol.
The following troops distinguished themselves particularly: the 11th Guards Don Cossack Cavalry Division under the command of Colonel Slanov, the 130th Taganrog Infantry Division under Colonel Sychev, the 221st Infantry Division under Colonel Blazhevich, the 3rd . Guards Infantry Division under Major-Gen-eral Tsalikov, the 39th Guards Infantry Division under Colonel Leshchinin, the 9th Guards Fighter Aviation Division under Colonel Dzusov, the 5th.Guards Mechanized Brigade under Colonel Safronov, the 6th Guards Mechanized Brigade under Colonel Artemenko, the 12th Motorized Infantry Brigade under Lieutenant-Colonel Zharov, the 3rd Tank Brigade under Lieutenant-Colonel Devyatko, the 39th Tank Brigade under Lieutenant-Colonel Bespalov, the 31st- Guards Independent Tank Brigade under Major-General of Tank Forces Burdov, the 65th Tank Brigade under Colonel Shevchenko, the 1,890th Independent Self-Propelled Light Artillery Regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel Gurin and the 517th Independent Tank Battalion under Captain Nesterov.
To commemorate the victory the formations and units which distinguished themselves in the battles for the liberation of the towns of Volnovakha, Mariupol, Chaplino and Barvenkovo will be awarded titles as follows:
The title "Mariupol Troops" to the 221st Infantry Division, the 9th Guards Fighter Aviation Division.
The title "Volnovakha Troops" to the 11th Guards Don Cavalry Division, the 3rd Guards Infantry Division, the 5th Guards Mechanized Brigade, the 6th Guards Mechanized Brigade, the 12th Motorized Infantry Brigade, the 655th Tank Brigade.
The title "Chaplino Troops" to the 3rd Tank Brigade, the 39th Tank Brigade.
The title "Barvenkovo Troops" to the 39th Guards Infantry Division, the 31st Guards Independent Tank Brigade, the 1,890th Independent Self-Propelled Light Artillery Regiment and the 517th Independent Tank Battalion.
Henceforth these formations and units shall be called:
The 221st Mariupol Infantry Division, the 9th Mariupol Guards Fighter Aviation Division; the 11th Volnovakha Guards Don Cavalry Division, the 3rd Volnovakha Guards Infantry Division, the 5th Volnovakha Guards Mechanized Brigade, the 6th Volnovakha Guards Mechanized Brigade, the 12th Volnovakha Motorized Infantry Brigade, the 65th Volnovakha Tank Brigade; the 3rd Chaplino Infantry Brigade, the 39th Chaplino Tank Brigade; the 39th Barvenkovo Guards Infantry Division, the 31st Barvenkovo Guards Independent Tank' Brigade, the 1,890th Barvenkovo Self-Propelled Light Artillery Regiment, the 517th Barvenkovo Independent Tank Battalion.
The 130th Taganrog Infantry Division, which has distinguished itself for the second time in fighting against the German invaders, is recommended for the award of the order of the Red Banner.
To-day, September 10th, at 20.00 hours, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf, of the Motherland salutes our gallant troops which liberated the towns of Mariupol, Volnovakha, Chaplino and Barvenkovo, with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns.
For distinguished battle operations I express my thanks to all troops commanded by you which participated in the fighting for Mariupol, Volnovakha, Chaplino and Barvenkovo.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fight for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
(Signed) STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 15, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issues by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Rokossvsky
Troops of the central front continuing their offensive to-day, September 15, after two days of violent battles, captured the large railway junction and town of Nezhin, the most important strong point of the German defence on the road to Kiev.
In the fighting for Nezhin the troops commanded by Lieutenant-General Chernyakhovsky and Major-General P.M. Kozlov, Guards tankmen commanded by Lieutenant-General of tank troops Korchagin and airmen commanded . by Lieutenant-General of Aviation Rudenko distinguished themselves, and especially the 280th Konotop Infantry Division commanded by Major-General Gol-osov, the. 132nd Bakhmach Infantry Division commanded by Major-General Shkryler, the 24th Guards Mechanized Brigade commanded by Colonel Maximov, the 25th Guards Mechanized Brigade commanded by Colonel Artamonov, the 26th Guards Sevsk Mechanized Brigade commanded by Major-General Barinov, the 57th Guards Tank Brigade commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Silov, the 299th Assault Aircraft Division commanded by Colonel Krupskyi, and the 286th Fighter Aircraft Division commanded by Colonel Ivanov.
In honour of the victory achieved the 7th Guards Mechanized Corps, the 24th Guards Mechanized Brigade, the 25th Guards Mechanized Brigade, the 57th Guards Tank Brigade, the 299th Assault Aircraft Division and the 286th Fighter Aircraft Division, which distinguished themselves in the fighting for the town of Nezhin, are to bear the name of "Nezhin."
Henceforth these formations will be named the 7th Guards Nezhin' Mechanized Corps, the 24th Guards Nezhin Mechanized Brigade, the 25th Guards Nezhin Mechanized Brigade, the 57th Guards Nezhin Tank Brigade, the 299th Nezhin Assault Aircraft Division and the 286th Nezhin Fighter Aircraft Division.
The 280th Konotop Infantry Division, the 132nd Bakhmach Infantry Division and the 26th Guards Sevsk Mechanized Brigade, which for the second time distinguished themselves in fighting against the German invaders, are to be proposed for the award of the Order of the Red Banner.
To-day, September 15, at 20.00 hours Moscow time the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland will salute our gallant troops which liberated the town of Nezhin, with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns.
For distinguished battle operations I express my thanks to all troops commanded by you which participated in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Nezhin.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fight for the freedom and independence of our Motherland.
Death to the German invaders!
(Signed) STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 16, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Colonel-General Petrov and Vice-Admiral Vladimirsky
To-day, September 16, our troops of the Northern Caucasus front, in collaboration with the ships and units of the Black Sea Fleet, as the result of a daring operation, by an attack on land and the landing of a force from the sea, after five days of fierce battles in the course of which the 73rd German Infantry Division, the 4th and 101st German Mountain Infantry Division, the 4th Rumanian Mountain Infantry Division and the harbour defence force of German Marines were routed, took by storm the important Black Sea port and town of Novorossiisk.
In the fighting for Novorossiisk troops under Lieutenant-General Leselidze, sailors under Rear-Admiral Kholostyakov and airmen under Lieutenant-General of Aviation Vershinin and Lieutenant-General of Aviation Yermashenko distinguished themselves.
The following troops particularly dis~ tinguished themselves: The 318th Infantry Division (commanded by Colonel Vrutsky), the 55th Guards Irkutsk Infantry Division (named after the Supreme Soviet of the Russian S.F.S.R., holder of the Order of Lenin and three times honoured by the award of the Order of the Red Banner, commanded by Major-General Arshintsev), the 83rd Red Banner Independent Marine Brigade (Lieutenant-Colonel Kozlov), the 5th Guards Tank Brigade (Colonel Shurenkov), the 290th Independent Infantry Regiment of the Troops of the. People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs (Lieutenant-Colonel Piskarev), the 393rd Independent Battalion of Marines (Lieutenant-Captain Botylev), the 11th Stormovik Aircraft Division of the Black Sea Fleet Air Arm (Lieutenant-Colonel Gubny), the 88th Guards Fighter Aircraft Regiment (Major Maximenko), the 889th Night Light-Bomber Aircraft Regiment (Major Bocharov), the 2nd Brigade of Torpedo Cutters (Captain of the 2nd rank Protsenko), the 1st Red Banner Squadron of Patrol Cutters (Lieutenant-Captain Glukhov), the 4th Squadron of Patrol Cutters (Lieutenant-Captain Sipyagin), the 81st Howitzer Artillery Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Akhtrychenko), the 69th Guards Artillery Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Petrun), the 1,169th Cannon Artillery Regiment (Colonel Tarasov), the 108th Guards Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment (Major Bagnych), the 195th Mountain Mortar .Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Ivanyan), the 1st Guards Independent Artillery Battalion (Major Matushenko), the 251st Independent Mobile Artillery Battalion (Captain Soluyanov), and the 8th Guards Mortar Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Makaryan).
To commemorate the victory, the following troops which distinguished themselves in the liberation of the town of Novorossiisk; will be awarded the title of "Novorossiisk Troops" the 318th Infantry Division, the 83rd Red Banner Independent Marine Brigade, the 5th Guards Tank Brigade, the 290th Independent Infantry Regiment of the troops of the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs, the 393rd Independent Battalion of Marines, the 11th Stormovic Aircraft Formation, the 88th Guards Fighter Aircraft Regiment, the 889th Night-Light Bomber Aircraft Regiment, the 2nd Brigade of Torpedo Cutters, the 1st Red Banner Squadron of Patrol Cutters, the 4th Squadron of Patrol Cutters, the 81st Howitzer Artillery Regiment, the 69th Guards Artillery Regiment, the 1,16.9th Cannon Artillery Regiment, the 108th Guards Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment, the 195th Mountain Mortar Regiment, the 1st Guards Independent Artillery Battalion, the 251st Independent Mobile Artillery Battalion and the 8th Guards Mortar Regiment.
Henceforth they are named: the 318th Novorossiisk Infantry Division, the 83rd Red Banner Novorossiisk Independent Marine Brigade, the 5th Guards Novorossiisk Tank Brigade, the 290th Novorossiisk Independent Infantry Regiment of the troops of the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs, the 393rd Novorossiisk Independent Battalion of Marines, the 11th Novorossiisk Stormovik Aircraft Formation, the 88th Guards Novorossiisk Fighter Aircraft Regiment, the 889th Night Light-Bomber Aircraft Regiment, the 2nd Novorossiisk Brigade of Torpedo Cutters, the 1st Red Banner Novorossiisk Squadron of Patrol Cutters, the 4th Novorossiisk Squadron of Patrol Cutters, the 81st Novorossiisk Howitzer Artillery Regiment, the 69th Guards Novorossiisk Artillery Regiment, the 1,169th Novorossiisk Cannon Artillery Regiment , the 108th Guards Novorossiisk Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment,' the 195th Novorossiisk Mountain Mortar Regiment, the 1st Guards Novoro-ssisk Independent Artillery Battalion, the 251st Novorossiisk Independent Mobile Artillery Battalion and the 8th Guards Novorossiisk Mortar Regiment.
The 55th Guards Irkutsk Infantry Division (named, after the Supreme Soviet of the R.S. F.S.R., holder of the Order of Lenin and three times awarded the Order of the Red Banner), which has frequently distinguished itself in battle against the enemies of our Motherland, is recommended for the award of the Order of Suvorov, 2nd Grade.
To-day, September 16, at 20.00 hours, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops which liberated the town of Novorossiisk. At the same time, the ships of the Black Sea Fleet will be saluted with 12 salvoes in honour of the ships and units which have liberated the second base of the Black Sea, Novorossiisk, from the German-fascist yoke.
For their excellent military operations, I express my gratitude to. all the troops commanded by you which participated in the battles for the liberation of Novorossiisk.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fight for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 16, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Rokossovsky
Our troops of the central front, continuing their offensive, successfully forced the River Desna, and to-day, September 16, captured in fighting the large centre of resistance of the German defences on the line of that river, the town of Novgorod-Sever sky. Thus the defences previously prepared by the Germans on the western bank of the River Desna have been broken as a result of skilful and decisive operations by the troops of the central front.
In fighting for the forcing of the River Desna and the liberation of the town of Novgorod-Seversky, troops under Lieutenant-General Romanenko, Lieutenant-General Batov and Lieutenant-General Pukhov distinguished themselves.
In the fighting for Novgorod-Seversky, the following troops particularly distinguished themselves: The 102nd Far East Infantry Division (Major-General Andreyev), the 140th Siberian Infantry Division (Major-General Kise-lev), the 162nd Infantry Division (Major-General Panifolov), the 478th Mortar Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Ostapenko), the 120th Antitank Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Dmitryev), the 94th Guards Mortar Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Kovalenko), the 235th A.A. Artillery Regiment (Major Popov), the 14th Engineering Sapper Brigade (Lieutenant-Colonel Gaber), and the 321st : Engineering Battalion (Major Popov). To commemorate the victory these formations and units will be awarded the title of Novgorod-Seversky troops.
Henceforth they are named: The 102nd Novgorod-Seversky Far Eastern Infantry Division, the 140th Novgorod-Seversky Siberian Infantry Division, the 162nd Novgorod-Seversky Infantry Division, the 478th Novgorod-Seversky Mortar Regiment, the 120th Novgorod-Seversky Antitank Regiment, the 94th Guards Novgorod-Seversky Mortar Regiment, the 235th Novgorod-Seversky Artillery Regiment, the 14th Novgorod-Seversky Engineering Sapper Brigade, and the 321st Novgorod-Seversky Engineering Battalion.
In addition, in the battles for the forcing of the river Desna, there distinguished themselves the 69th Red Banner Sevsk Infantry Division (Major-General Kazakov), the 37th Guards Infantry Division (Colonel Usnakov), the 37th Infantry Division (Major-General Yelshin), the 73rd Infantry Division (Major-General Smirnov), the 137th Infantry Division (Major-General Antonov), the 8th Infantry Division (Colonel Gus), the 74th Infantry Division (Major-General Kazayan), the 6th Independent Artillery Regiment (Major Shiskin), the 1168th Heavy Artillery Independent Regiment (Major Agarkov), the 6th Independent Engineering Sapper Brigade (Colonel Ostapov), the 7th Assault Engineering Sapper Brigade (Lieutenant-Colonel Bagach), the 9th Independent Pontoon-Bridge-Building Battalion (Lieutenant-Colonel Shklyar), the 49th Independent Pontoon-Bridge-Building Battalion (Major Pavlov), and the 60th Independent Pontoon Bridge-Building Battalion (Major Federov).
For the successful forcing of the River Desna, the commanders of the formations and units which distinguished themselves are recommended for the award of the Order of Suvarov.
To-day, September 16, at 22.00, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, salutes with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops which successfully forced the River Desna and liberated the town of Novgorod-Seversky.
For their excellent military operations, I express my gratitude to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting to force the River Desna and in the liberation of the town of Novgorod-Seversky.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fight for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 17, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Popov
Continuing to develop the offensive, our troops of the Bryansk front successfully forced the Desna River, and to-day, September 17, with simultaneous blows from north and east, crushed enemy resistance and captured the most important German centres of resistance on this river, the big industrial towns of Bryansk and Bez-hitsa.
In the fighting for the towns of Bryansk and Bezhitsa, the 339th, 110th, 707th, 95th, 299th and 134th German Infantry Divisions were routed. Thus, as the result of a skilfully executed outflanking manoeuvre, effected in difficult wooded and swampy terrain, the troops of the Bryansk front forced a second breach in the German defences along the Desna River.
In the battles during the forcing of the River Desna and for the possession of the towns of Bryansk and Bezhitsa, the troops under Lieutenant-General Fedyuninsky and airmen under Lieutenant-General of Aviation Naumenko, distinguished themselvfes. In addition, the 197th Infantry Division under Lieutenant-Colonel bashev, the 323rd Infantry Division under Colonel Ukrainets, the 4th Infantry Division under Colonel Vorobyev, the 273rd Infantry Division under Colonel Valyugin, the 3rd Fighter Aircraft Guards Division under Colonel Uk-hov, the 313th Night Close Range Bomber Aircraft Division under Colonel Voyevodin, the 277th Engineers Battalion under Colonel Mamon-ov, the 140th Engineer-Sapper Battalion under Major Lisin, the 310th Guards Mortar Regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel Kovchur, the 74th Guards Mortar Regiment under Major Dzaridze particularly distinguished themselves.
To honour the victory achieved the following names shall be conferred on the formations and units which distinguished themselves in the battle for the forcing of the Desna River and for the liberation of the towns of Bryansk and Bezhitsa: the name of Bryansk on the 197th Infantry Division, the 323rd Infantry Division, the 3rd Fighter Aircraft Guards Division, the 277th Engineers Battalion, the 140th Engineer-Sapper Battalion; the name of Bezhitsa on the 4th Infantry Division, the 273rd Infantry Division, 313th Night Close Range Bomber Aircraft Division, the 310th Guards Mortar Regiment, the 74th Guards Mortar Regiment. Henceforth these formations and units will be named: the 197th Bryansk Infantry Division, the 323rd Bryansk Infantry Guards Division, the 277th Bryansk Engineers Battalion, the 140th Bryansk Engineer-Sapper Battalion, the 4th Bezhitsa Infantry Division, the 273rd Bezhitsa Infantry Division, the 313th Bezhitsa Night Close Range Bomber Aircraft Division, the 310th Bezhitsa Guards Mortar Regiment,the 74th Bezhitsa Guards Mortar Regiment.
For their successful forcing of the Desna River, the Army Generals, and also commanders of formations and units which distinguished themselves, shall be recommended for the award of the Order of Suvorov.
To-day, September 17, at 21.30, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops which successfully forced the Desna River and liberated the towns of Bryansk and Bezhitsa.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which participated in the fighting during the forcing of the Desna River and the liberation of the towns of Bryansk and Bezhitsa.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fight for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 18, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin
The Second Guards Cavalry Corps under Major-General Kryukov, in, the battle for the forcing of the River Desna from September 11 to 15, 1943, displayed examples of military skill, staunchness and ability to manoeuvre. Units of the corps, breaking through to the rear of the enemy, forced the River Desna, captured a place-d'armes on the western bank of the river and held it for four days, until the arrival of our infantry, repulsing many counterattacks launched by large German forces supported by tanks and aircraft.
For daring and resolute operations in forcing the River Desna, the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps is recommended for the award of the Order of the Red Banner.
The 20th Cavalry Division, which holds the Red Banner and the Order of Lenin, and which forms part of this Cavalry Corps, will be reorganized as the 17th Guards Cavalry Division, holding the Red Banner and the Order of Lenin. The commander of the Division is Major-General Kursakov. The new Guards Division will be presented with a Guards Banner.
For the successful forcing of the River Desna, the commander of the corps, as well as the commanders of formations and units which distinguished themselves, will be recommended for the award of the Order of Suvarov.
STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 19, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Yeremenko and Army General Sokolovsky
Our troops on the Kalinin front, as a result of four days' fierce fighting, broke through strongly fortified enemy defence lines, shattered his strongpoints Ribshevo, Verdino, Lomono-sovo, Kulagino and Pankratovo, which he had held over a long period of time, and took by storm the vital strongpoint of the German defences on the way to Smolensk, the town of Dukhovshchina.
Our troops of the Western front, after stubborn battles, broke the enemy's resistance and captured the important strongpoint of the German defences at the approaches to Smolensk, the town and railway station of Yartsevo. Thus the strongly fortified German defence line which has been in existence over a long period of time and which closed the so-called Smolensk gates, has been broken.
In fighting for the liberation of the towns of Dukhovshchina and Yartsevo the troops commanded by Lieutenant-General Berzarin, Lieutenant-General Gluzdovsky and Lieutenant-General Golubev, tankmen under Colonel Dromov and airmen under Lieutenant-General of Aviation Gromov and Major-General of Aviation Popivin, distinguished themselves. The following divisions, brigades and battalions, to mark the victories achieved, will henceforth bear the names of the towns they liberated:
The 91st Guards Infantry Division (Major-General Ozimin), the 17th Guards Infantry Division (Major-General Kvashnin), the 184th-Infantry Division (Colonel Tsukharev), the 46th Mechanized - Brigade (Colonel Manzhurin), the 47th Mechanized Brigade (Lieutenant-Colonel Mikhailov), the 21st Artillery Division (Major-General of Artillery Samborsky), the 4th Antitank Artillery Brigade (Colonel Savlevich), the 4th Assault Engineer Sappers Brigade (Lieutenant-Colonel Matuzas), the 306th Infantry Division (Colonel Kucheryavenko), the 134th Infantry Division (Major-General Dobrovolsky), the 234th Infantry Division (Colonel Turyev), the 178th Infantry Division (Major-General Kudryavtsev), the 185th Infantry Division (Major-General Andreushchenko), the 82nd Red Banner Infantry Division (Major-General Pissarev), the 274th Infantry Division (Colonel Shulga), the 359th Infantry Division (Colonel Kosol-apov), the 233rd - Assault Air Division (Lieutenant-Colonel Solovik), the 123rd Assault Air Division (Lieutenant-Colonel Solovik), the 123rd Guards Bomber Aircraft Regiment (Major Dymchenko), the 2nd Guards Motor Cycle Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Polubochko), the 529th Tank Artillery Regiment (Lieutenant-Col-onel Vyburov), the 72nd Engineering Battalion (Major Mosenzon), the 90th Independent Pontoon and Bridge-Building Battalion (Major Semonov).
To commemorate the victory, the following titles shall be conferred on the formations and units which particularly distinguished themselves in the battles for breaking through the strongly fortified German defence zone and in the liberation of the towns of Dukhovsh-china and Yartsevo:
The name of Dukhovshchina will be conferred on the 91st Guards Infantry Division, the 17th Guards Infantry Division, the 184th Infantry Division, the 46th Mechanized Brigade, the 47th Mechanized Brigade, the 21st Artillery Division, the 4th Anti-tank Artillery Brigade and the 4th Assault Engineering Sapper Brigade.
The name of Yartsevo shall be conferred on: the 82nd Red Banner Infantry Division, the 274th Infantry Division, the 359th Infantry Division, the 529th Anti-tank Artillery Regiment, the 90th Independent Pontoon and Bridge-Building Battalion, the 72nd Engineering Battalion, the 2nd Guards Motor Cycle Regiment, the 233rd Assault Aircraft Division and the 123rd Guards Bomber Aircraft Regiment.
The name of Ribshevo shall be conferred on: the 306th Infantry Division, the name of Verdino on the 134th Infantry Division, the name of Lomonosovo on the 24th Infantry Division, the name of Kulagino on the 178th Infantry Division, and the name of Pankrotovo on the 185th Infantry Division.
Henceforth they are named: the 91st Guards Dukhovshchina Infantry Division,the 17th Guards Dukhovshchina Infantry Division, the 184th Dukhovshchina Infantry Division, the 46th Dukhovshchina Mechanized Brigade, the 21st Dukhovshchina Artillery Division, the 4th Dukhovshchina Anti-tank Artillery Brigade, the 4th Dukhovshchina Assault Engineering Sapper Brigade; the 82nd Red Banner Yartsevo Infantry Division, the 274th Yartsevo Infantry Division, the 359th Yartsevo Infantry Division, the 529th Yartsevo Anti-tank Artillery Regiment, the 90th Yartsevo Independent Pontoon and Bridge-Building Battali on, the 72nd Yartsevo Engineering Battalion, the 2nd Guards Yartsevo Motor Cycle Regiment, the 233rd Yartsevo Assault Aircraft Division, the 123rd Guards Yartsevo Bomber Aircraft Regiment; the 306th Ribshevo Infantry Division; the 134th Verdino Infantry Division, the 24th Lomonosovo Infantry Division; the 178th Kulagino Infantry Division and the 185th Pankratovo Infantry Division.
To-day, September 19, at 21.00 hours, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, oil behalf of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops which broke through the German defences on the way to Smolensk and captured the towns of Dukhovshchina and Yartsevo.
For excellent military operations, I express my thanks to all troops commanded by you, which took- part in the battles for Dukhovshchina and Yartsevo.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fight for the freedom and independence of our Motherland.
Death to the German invaders!
STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 19, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin
As a result of a violent offensive in the Ukraine, our troops, on September 18-19, 1943, liberated from the German invaders the towns of Priluki, Romny, Piryatin, Lubny, Romodan, Mirgorod, Krasnograd and pavlograd.
In the battles for the liberation of these towns the following divisions, corps and regiments distinguished themselves and to mark the victories achieved will henceforth bear the names of the towns they liberated:
The 167th Sumy Infantry Division, the 163rd Infantry Division, the 337th Infantry Division, the 237th Infantry Division, the 309th Infantry Division, the 373rd Infantry Division, the 93rd Infantry Division, the 218th Infantry Division, the 72nd Guards Infantry - Division, the 81st Guards Infantry Division, the 58th Guards Infantry Division, the 1st Mechanised Corps, the 2nd Tank Corps, the 161st Guards Artillery Regiment, the 115th Guards Anti-tank Artillery Regiment, the 292nd Air Fighter Division, the 60th Guards Infantry Division, the 172nd Infantry Division and the 42nd Guards Infantry Division.
To commemorate the successes achieved the following names shall be conferred on the above formations and units: the name of Priluki on the ,42nd Guards Infantry Division, the name of Romny on the 163rd Infantry Division, the name of Lubny on the 337th Infantry Division, the name of Piryatin on the 309th Infantry Division and the 237th Infantry Division, the name of Mirgorod on the 373rd Infantry Division, and the 93rd Infantry Division, the name of Romodan on the 218th Infantry Division, the name of Krasnograd on the 72nd Guards Infantry Division, the 58th Guards Infantry Division, the 1st Mechanized Corps, the 161st Guards Artillery Regiment, the 115th Guards Anti-tank Artillery Regiment and the 292nd Air Fighter Division, the name of Pavlograd on the 60th Guards Infantry Division, and the 172nd Infantry Division.
Henceforth they are named: the 42nd Guards Priluki Division, the 163rd Romny Infantry Division, the 337th Lubny Infantry Division, the 309th Piryatin Infantry Division, the 237th Piryatin Infantry Division, the 373rd Mirgorod Infantry Division, the 93rd Mirgorod Infantry Division, the 218th Romodan Infantry Division, the 72nd Guards Krasnograd Infantry Division, the 81st Guards Krasnograd Infantry Division, the 58th Guards Krasnograd Infantry Division, the 1st Krasnograd Mechanized Corps, the 161st Guards Krasnograd Artillery Regiment, the 115th Guards Krasnograd Anti-tank Artillery Regiment, the 292nd Krasnograd Air Fighter Division, the 60th Guards Pavlograd Infantry Division and the 172nd Pavlograd Infantry Division.
The 167th Infantry Division, which for the second time has distinguished itself in battle against the German invaders, is to be recommended for the award of the Red Banner.
The Second Tank Corps will be reorganized as the 8th Guards Tank Corps. The Commander of the Corps is Lieutenant-General of Tank Forces A. Popov. The new Guards Corps will be presented with the Guards Banner.
STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 19, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin
Troops under the command of Lieutenant-General Kolpakchi on September 18, 1943, south of Bryansk, forced the River Desna along a wide front and, capturing the town of Trubch-evsk, are successfully developing their offensive to the west.
For their gallant and determined operations in forcing the River Desna, the commanders of the formations and units which distinguished themselves are recommended for the award of the Order of Suvorov.
STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 21, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Rokossovsky
Our troops of the central front, continuirig their vigorous offensive,, successfully forced the River Desna, and with a skilful outflanking manoeuvre, after three days' fighting, to-day, September 21, captured by storm the regional centre of the Ukraine, the town of Chernigov, a most important strongpoint of the German defences on the lower reaches of the River Desna.
Thus, the German defences prepared on the western banks of the River Desna have been overcome by our troops along the whole course of the river, and the plan of the Germans to stem the advance of our troops on _ the line of the River Desna must be considered to have failed.
In the battles for the forcing of the River Desna and for the capture of the town of Chernigov, the troops under Lieutenant-General Pukhov, Major-Gerneral Nechayev, Lieutenant-General Bondarev and airmen under Lieutenant-General of Aviation Rudenko, distinguished themselves. The 148th Infantry Division (Major-General Mischenko), the 181st Stalingrad Infantry Division bearing the Order of Lenin (Major-General Sarayev), the 211th Infantry Division (Major-General Makhnevsky), the 77th Guards Infantry Divsion (Major-General Oskal-epov), the 76th Guards Infantry Division (Major-General Kirsanov), the 16th Guards Cavalry Division (Colonel Belov), the 129th Tank Brigade (Colonel Vatrushin), the 874th Anti-tank Artillery Regiment (Colonel Federov), the 476th Mortar Regiment (Major Gladky), the 1,287th A.A. Artillery Regiment (Colonel Ostroglazov), and the 2nd Guards Stormovik Aircraft Division (Colonel Komarov) particularly distinguished themselves.
To commemorate the victory achieved, the formations and units which distinguished themselves in the battles for the forcing of the River Desna and the liberation of the town of Chernigov, namely, the 148th Infantry Division, the 211th Infantry Division, the 77th Guards Infantry Division, the 76th Guards Infantry Division, the 16th Guards Cavalry Division, the 129th Tank Brigade, the 874th Anti-tank Artillery Regiment, the 476th Mortar Regiment, the 1,287th A.A. Artillery Regiment and the 2nd Guards Stormovil Aircraft Division are to bear the name of Chernigov.
Henceforth these formations and units are named the 148th Chernigov Infantry Division, the 211th Chernigov Infantry Division, the 77th Guards Chernigov Infantry Division, the 76th Guards Chernigov Infantry Division, the 16th Guards Chernigov Cavalry Division, the 129th Chernigov Tank Brigade, the 874th Chernigov Anti-tank Artillery Regiment, the 476th Chernigov Mortar Regiment, the 1,287th Chernigov A.A. Artillery Regiment, the 2nd Guards Chernigov Stormovik Aircraft Division.
The 181st Stalingrad Infantry Division, bearing the Order of Lenin, which for the second time has distinguished itself in battle against the German invaders, will be recommended for the award of the Order of the Red Banner.
For the successful forcing of the River Desna, the commanders of the formations and units which distinguished themselves will be recommended for the award of the Order of Suvorov.
To-day, September 21, at 21.00, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops which successfully forced the River Desna and liberated the town of Chernigov.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the forcing of the River Desna and the liberation of the town of Chernigov.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fight for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 22, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin
Troops of the Kalinin front, after two days' fighting, broke the resistance of the enemy, and on September 21 took by storm one of the strongest German defence centres, the town of Demidov.
In the fighting for the liberation of the town of Demidov, the troops of Lieutenant-General Golubev distinguished themselves. Among those which especially distinguished themselves were: the 262nd Infantry Division (commanded by Major-General Usachev), the 270th Infantry Division (Colonel Belyayev), the 114th Infantry Brigade (Colonel Yegosin), the 105th Tank Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Pavlov), the 43rd Red Banner Howitzer Artillery Regiment (Colonel Dydyshko), the 118th Mortar Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Melnikov) and the 273rd Engineer Battalion (Major Alexeyev).
In commemoration of the successes achieved the enumerated formations and units will receive the title of "Demidov," and are henceforth to be known as the 262nd Demidov Infantry Division, the 270th Demidov Infantry Division the 114th Demidov Infantry Brigade, the 105th Demidov Tank Regiment, the 43rd Red Banner Demidov Howitzer Artillery Regiment, the 118th Demidov Mortar Regiment, and the 273rd Demidov Engineer Battalion.
J. V. STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 23, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Koniev
Troops of the Steppe front, successfully developing their offensive, forced the River Vorskla, and after three days' fierce fighting, to-day, September 23, captured the regional centre of the Ukraine, the town of Poltava, a powerful German defence centre in the Ukraine to the east of the Dnieper.
In the fighting for the liberation of the town of Poltava, troops commanded by Lieutenant-General Zhadov, Lieutenant-General Mana-garov and airmen commanded by Lieutenant-General of Aviation Goryunov, distinguished themselves, especially the 9th Guards Airborne Division (Colonel Sazonov), the 13th Guards Red Banner Infantry Division, bearing the Order of Lenin (Major-General Baklanov), the 66th Guards Infantry Division (Major-General Yaksh-in), the 95th Guards Infantry Division (Major-General Nikichenko), the 97th Guards Infantry Division (Colonel Antsiferov), the 84th Kharkov Infantry Division (Major-General Bunyashin), the 42nd Light Artillery Brigade (Colonel Skoro-dumov), the 301st Anti-tank Artillery Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Vlassenko), the 57th Tank Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Federov), the 431st Engineering Battalion (Lieutenant-Colonel Boltusevich), the 294th Fighter Aviation Division (Lieutenant-Colonel Taranenko) and the 266th Stormovik Aviation Division (Colonel Rodyakin).
In commemoration of the victory achieved, the formations and units who distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Poltava are to bear the name of Poltava. Henceforth the above mentioned formations and units are named: The 9th Guards Poltava Airborne Division, the 13th Guards Red Banner Poltava Infantry Division, bearing the Order of Lenin, the 66th Guards Poltava Infantry Division, the 95th Guards Poltava Infantry Division, the 97th Guards Poltava Infantry Division, the 42nd Poltava Light Artillery Brigade,'the 301st Poltava Anti-tank Artillery Regiment, the 57th Poltava Tank Regiment, the 431st Poltava Engineering Battalion, the 294th Poltava Fighter Aviation Division and the 266th Poltava Stormovik Aviation Division.
The 84th Kharkov Infantry Division, which has for the second time distinguished itself in battle against the German invaders, is to be recommended for the award of the Order of the Red Banner.
To-day, September 23, at 21.00 hours the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops which liberated the town of Poltava.
For excellent military operations, I express my thanks to all troops commanded by you who participated in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Poltava.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fight for the freedom and independence of our Motherland.
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 23, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin
In the battle for the liberation from the German-fascist invaders of the towns of Novo-Moskovsk, Sinelnikovo, Lozovaya Pavlograd, examples of military skill and the ability to manoeuvre were displayed by the 195th Infantry Division (Colonel Suchkov), the 333rd Infantry Division (Major-General Golosko), the 25th Guards Red Banner Infantry Division (Colonel Milyutin), the 35th Guards Red Banner Infantry Division (Major-General Kulagin), the 38th Guards Infantry Division (Colonel Shcherbakov), the 295th Air Fighter Division (Colonel Seliver-stov), the 244th Air Bomber Division (Major-General Klevtsov), the 262nd Night Bomber Aircraft Division (Colonel Belitsky), the 305th Stormovik Aircraft Division (Colonel Mesevich), the 288th Fighter Aircraft Division (Colonel Smirnov), and the 269th Independent Sapper Battalion (Captain Shevchuk).
To commemorate these successes, these formations and units shall henceforth be named: The 195th Novo-Moskovsk Infantry Division, the 295th Novo-Moskovsk Air Fighter Division; the 333rd Sinelnikovo Infantry Division, the 25th Guards Red Banner Sinelnikovo Infantry Division; the 35th Guards Red Banner Lozovaya Infantry Division, the 38th Guards Lozovaya Infantry Division, the 244th Lozovaya Air Bomber Division, the 262nd Lozovaya Night Bomber Air Division; the 305th Pavlograd Stormovik Aircraft Division, the 288th Pavlograd Fighter Aircraft Division and the 269th Pavlograd Independent Sapper Battalion.
J. V. STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 23, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Koniev
Troops of the Steppe front, successfully developing their offensive, forced the River Vorskla, and after three days' fierce fighting, to-day, September 23, captured the regional centre of the Ukraine, the town of Poltava, a powerful German defence centre in the Ukraine to the east of the Dnieper.
In the fighting for the liberation of the town of Poltava, troops commanded by Lieutenant-General Zhadov, Lieutenant-General Mana-garov and airmen commanded by Lieutenant-General of Aviation Goryunov, distinguished themselves, especially the 9th Guards Airborne Division (Colonel Sazonov), the 13th Guards Red Banner Infantry Division, bearing the Order of Lenin (Major-General Baklanov), the 66th Guards Infantry Division (Major-General Yaksh-in), the 95th Guards Infantry Division (Major-General Nikichenko), the 97th Guards Infantry Division (Colonel Antsiferov), the 84th Kharkov Infantry Division (Major-General Bunyashin), the 42nd Light Artillery Brigade (Colonel Skoro-dumov), the 301st Anti-tank Artillery Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Vlassenko), the 57th Tank Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Federov), the 431st Engineering Battalion (Lieutenant-Colonel Boltusevich), the 294th Fighter Aviation Division (Lieutenant-Colonel Taranenko) and the 266th Stormovik Aviation Division (Colonel Rodyakin).
In commemoration of the victory achieved, the formations and units who distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Poltava are to bear the name of Poltava. Henceforth the above mentioned formations and units are named: The 9th Guards Poltava Airborne Division, the 13th Guards Red Banner Poltava Infantry Division, bearing the Order of Lenin, the 66th Guards Poltava Infantry Division, the 95th Guards Poltava Infantry Division, the 97th Guards Poltava Infantry Division, the 42nd Poltava Light Artillery Brigade,'the 301st Poltava Anti-tank Artillery Regiment, the 57th Poltava Tank Regiment, the 431st Poltava Engineering Battalion, the 294th Poltava Fighter Aviation Division and the 266th Poltava Stormovik Aviation Division.
The 84th Kharkov Infantry Division, which has for the second time distinguished itself in battle against the German invaders, is to be recommended for the award of the Order of the Red Banner.
To-day, September 23, at 21.00 hours the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops which liberated the town of Poltava.
For excellent military operations, I express my thanks to all troops commanded by you who participated in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Poltava.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fight for the freedom and independence of our Motherland.
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 25, 1943
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Sokolovsky
Our troops of the western front continuing their successful, offensive, forced the River Dnieper, and to-day, September 25, after violent engagements, took by storm the large Regional centre, the town of Smolensk, the most important strategic centre of German defences in the western direction
To-day also our troops of the western front, after, two days' fierce battles, broke enemy resistance and captured the operationally important junction of communications and powerful strong point of German defence in the Mogilev direction - the town of Roslavl.
In the fighting to liberate the towns of Smolensk and Roslavl the troops under Lieutenant-General Gluzdovsky, Lieutenant-General Krylov, Lieutenant-General Polenov, Colonel-General Gordov, Lieutenant-General Sukhomlin, Lieutenant-General Zhuravlev, Lieutenant-General Popov, Lieutenant-General Gryshin, airmen under Lieutenant-General of Aviation Gromov and Marshal of Aviation Golovanov distinguished themselves.
The 331st Red Banner (Colonel Berestov), 215th Infantry Division (Major-General Kovlev), 133rd Infantry Division (Colonel Kasishvily), 222nd Infantry Division (Major-General Gryz-lov), 312th Infantry Division (Lieutenant-Colonel Moiseyevsky) , 199th Infantry Division (Colonel Kononenko), 56th Guards Infantry Division (Colonel Kolabutin), 42nd Infantry Division (Major-General Multan), 153rd Infantry Division (Colonel Krasnov), 32nd Cavalry Division, 4th Guards Artillery Division (Major-General of Artillery Kozhukov), 2nd Assault Aviation Corps (Major-General of Aviation Step-ichev), 3rd Guards Bomber Aviation Division (Colonel Andreyev), 303rd Aviation Fighter Division (Major-General of Aviation Zakharov), 309th Fighter Aviation Division, 367th Independent Artillery Battalion (Major Savenkov), 392nd Krasnoyarsk Corps Artillery Regiment (Colonel Sergeyev), 644th Artillery Regiment (Colonel . Krivoshapov), 873rd Anti-tank Artillery Regiment, 549th Mortar Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Sotskov), 317th Guards Mortar Regiment, 201st Independent Guards Mortar Division (Major Bagareyev),35th Independent Guards Mortar Division (Major Bogorodsky), 49th A.A. Artillery Division (Colonel Kaminsky), 341st A.A. Artillery Regiment, the 1,478th A.A. Artillery Regiment (Colonel Semyonov),42nd Guards Tank Brigade (Colonel Kotov), 153rd Tank Brigade (Colonel Krutiy), 4th Guards Tank Brigade (Colonel Savchenko), 1st Young Communist Assault Engineering Brigade (Colonel Petrov), 1st Guards Anti-tank Artillery Brigade (Colonel Basov), 247th Infantry Division (Major-general Mukhin), 139th Infantry Division (Colonel Kiril-lov), 326th Infantry Division (Colonel Gusev), 49th Infantry Division (Major-General Chizhov), 277th Infantry Division (Major-General Glady-shev), 344th Infantry Division (Colonel Strak-hov), 231st Assault Aviation Division (Coloneln Chizhikov), 564th Artillery Regiment (Colonel Gusev), 447th Red Banner Artillery Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Chvykov), 542nd Mortar Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Radchenko), 992nd Anti-tank Artillery Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Rupkov), 345th Engineering Battalion (Major Gusev), 303rd Engineering Battalion (Captain. Petukhov), 1,268th A.A. Artillery Regiment (Major Sazanov), 54th Guards Mortar Regiment (Major Lavrinovich), 2nd Independent Guards Mortar Division (Major Yeremin), 306th Long-Distance Aviation Division (Major-General of Aviation Dryanin), 2nd Guards Long-Distance Aviation Regiment (Colonel Balashov),3rd Guards Long-Distance Aviation Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Glazkov), 14th Guards Long-Distance Aviation Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Zenkov), 455th Long-Distance Aviation Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Chebetyev), 13th Guards Long-Distance Aviation Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Dmitriev), 17th Guards Long-Distance Aviation Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Matrosov), and 19th Guards Long-Distance Aviation Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Shaposhnikov) particularly distinguished themselves.
To commemorate the victory achieved, the formations and units which distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of the towns of Smolensk and Roslavl are to bear the names of Smolensk and Roslavl.
Henceforth these formations and units will be named: The 331st Red Banner Smolensk Infantry Division, the 215th Smolensk Infantry Division, the 133rd Smolensk Infantry Division, the 222nd Smolensk Infantry Division, the 312th Smolensk Infantry Division, the 199th Smolensk Infantry Division, the 56th Guards Smolensk Infantry Division, the 153rd Smolensk Infantry Division, the 32nd Smolensk Cavalry division, the 4th Guards Smolensk Artillery .Division, the 2nd Smolensk Assault Aviation Corps, the 3rd Guards Smolensk Bomber Aviation Division, the 303rd Smolensk Fighter Aviation Division, 309th Smolensk Fighter Aviation Division, the 367th Smolensk Independent Artillery Battalion, 392nd Krasnoyarsk Smolensk Corps Artillery Regiment, 644th Smolensk Artillery Regiment, 873rd Smolensk Anti-tank Artillery Regiment, 549th Smolensk Mortar Regiment, 317th Guards Smolensk Mortar Regiment, 201st Smolensk Independent Guards Mortar Division, 35th Smolensk Independent Guards Mortar Division, 49th Smolensk A.A. Artillery Division, 341st Smolensk A.A. Artillery Regiment, 1,478th Smolensk A.A. Artillery Regiment 42nd Guards- Smolensk Tank Brigade, 153rd Smolensk Tank Brigade,4th Guards Smolensk Tank Brigade, 1st Guards Smolensk Anti-tank Artillery Brigade, 306th Smolensk Long-Distance Aviation Division, 2nd Guards Smolensk Long-Distance Aviation Regiment, 3rd Guards Smolensk Long-Distance Aviation Regiment, 14th Guards Smolensk Long-Distance Aviation Regiment, 455th Smolensk Long-Distance Aviation Regiment; 247th Roslavl Infantry Division, 139th Roslavl Infantry Division, 326th Roslavl Infantry Division, 49th Roslavl Infantry Division, 277th Roslavl Infantry Division, 344th Roslavl Infantry Division, 231st Roslavl Assault Aviation Division, 564th Roslavl Artillery Regiment, 447th Red Banner Roslavl Artillery Regiment, 306th Roslavl Engineering Battalion, 1,268th Roslavl A.A Artillery Regiment, 54th Guards Roslavl Mortar Regiment, 2nd Roslavl Independent Guards Mortar Division, 13th Guards Roslavl Long-Distance Aviation Regiment, 17th Guards Roslavl Long-Distance Aviation Regiment, 19th Guards Roslavl Long-Distance Aviation Regiment, 542nd Roslavl Mortar Regiment, 992nd Roslavl Anti-tank Artillery Regiment, 345th Roslavl Engineering Battalion, 303rd Roslavl Engineering Battalion, the First Smolensk Young Communist Engineering Assault Brigade.
To-day, September 25, at 21.00 hours Moscow time, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops which liberated the towns of Smolensk and Roslavl.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all troops commanded by you which took part in the fighting for Smolensk and Roslavl.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fight for the freedom and independence of our Motherland.
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
Addressed to Army-General Yatutin
November 6, 1943
AT dawn to-day, November 6, troops of the First Ukrainian front, as a result of a vigorously effected operation and daring outflanking manœuvre, captured by storm the capital of the Soviet Ukraine, the city of Kiev—the largest industrial centre and most important strategical centre of German defence on the right bank of the Dnieper.
With the capture of Kiev our troops have seized the most important and most advantageous bridgehead on the right bank of the Dnieper, which is of great importance for driving the Germans from the territory of the Ukraine west of the Dnieper.
In the fighting for the liberation of the city of Kiev the following troops distinguished themselves: Troops commanded by Colonel-General Moskalenko, Lieutenant-General Chernyakhovsky, tank troops commanded by Lieutenant-General Rybalko, airmen commanded by Lieutenant-General of Aviation Krassovsky and artillery commanded by Major-General of Artillery Korolkov.
Particular distinction was won by the 167th Sumy Infantry Division (Major-General Melnikov), twice awarded the Order of the Red Banner; the 232nd Sumy Infantry Division (Major-General Ulitin); 340th Sumy Infantry Division (Colonel Zubarev); 163rd Romny Infantry Division (Colonel Karlov); 240th Infantry Division (Colonel Umansky); 136th Infantry Division (Colonel Puzikov); 180th Infantry Division (Major-General Shmelev); the First Independent Czechoslovak Brigade in the U.S.S.R. (Colonel Svoboda); 74th Infantry Division (Colonel Kuznetsov); 23rd Infantry Division (Lieutenant-Colonel Shcherbakov); 30th Infantry Division (Colonel Yankovsky); 218th Infantry Division (Major-General Sklyarev); 121st Rylsk Infantry Division (Major-General Ladygin); 141st Infantry Division (Colonel Rassalikov); 226th Glukhov Infantry Division (Colonel Petrenko); 5th Stalingrad Guards Tank Corps (Lieutenant-General of Tank Troops Kravchenko); 7th Guards Tank Corps (Major-General Suleikov); 291st Voronezh Attack Air Division (Colonel Votruk); 202nd Middle Don Bomber Air Division (Colonel Nechipurenko); 4th Attack Guards Air Division (Major-General of Aviation Baidukov); 264th Attack Air Division (Lieutenant-Colonel Klobukov); 256th Fighter Air Division (Colonel Gerassimov); 8th Red Banner Fighter Air Division (Lieutenant-Colonel Chubikov); 208th Red Banner Night Short-Range Bomber Air Division (Colonel Yuzeyev); 10th Stalingrad Guards Fighter Air Division (Colonel Sryvkin); 235th Stalingrad Fighter Air Division (Major-General of Aviation Lakeyev); 17th Artillery Division (Major-General of Artillery Volkinshtein); 13th Artillery Division (Major-General of Artillery Krasnokutsky); 3rd Mortar Guards Division (Colonel Kolessnikov); 112th Red Banner Artillery Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Tsessar); 805th Howitzer Regiment (Major Teterin); 12th Independent Mortar Brigade (Lieutenant-Colonel Nemov); 9th Anti-Tank Guards Artillery Brigade (Lieutenant-Colonel Chernov); 491st Mortar Regiment (Major Plakhunov); 492nd Mortar Regiment (Major Glushchenko); 222nd Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment (Major Kodyakov); 316th Anti-Tank Guards Artillery Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Korozin); 868th Red Banner Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment (Major Chekh); 1,666th Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment (Major Berezin); 1,075th Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment (Major Andreyev); 4th Red Banner Guards Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Ponomartsev); 24th Guards Artillery Brigade (Colonel Brazgold); 60th Independent Spotter Air Squadron (Captain Rastorguyev); 811th Independent Reconnaissance Artillery Battalion (Captain Barinov); 8th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division (Colonel Emelyanov); 21st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division (Colonel Gudkov); 268th Independent Engineering Battalion (Captain Chechishvili); 7th Independent Engineering Battalion (Major Zhukov); 1,505th Independent Engineering. Battalion (Major Artemyev); First Artillery Guards Brigade (Colonel Kers); 65th Guards Mortar Regiment (Major Pavlov); 98th Guards Mortar Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Tikhonov); 1,157th Artillery Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Nazarenko); 497th Mortar Regiment (Major Mazanov); 6th Guards Tank Corps (Major-General of Tank Troops Panfilov); 839th Howitzer Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Chistyakov); 3rd Guards Light Artillery Brigade (Colonel Zhagalov); 59th Independent Tank Regiment (Major Skornyakov); 150th Independent Tank Brigade (Colonel Ugryumov).
To commemorate the victory achieved, the name of "Kiev" shall be conferred on the formations and units which distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of the city of Kiev.
The 202nd Middle Don Bomber Air Division, the 10th Stalingrad Guards Fighter Air Division and the 235th Stalingrad Fighter Air Division, which have distinguished themselves for the second time in fighting the German invaders, shall be recommended for decoration with the Order of the Red Banner.
The first Independent Czechoslovak Brigade of the U.S.S.R., which distinguished itself in the fighting for the liberation of Kiev, shall be recommended for decoration with the Order of Suvorov (2nd Class).
To-day, November 6, at 17.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, shall, on behalf of our Motherland, salute with 24 artillery salvoes from 324 guns, our gallant troops which liberated the city of Kiev.
For excellent military operations I thank all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting to liberate Kiev.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
(Signed) J. Stalin
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Moscow
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Speech at Celebration Meeting
of the Moscow Soviet
of Working People's Deputies
and Moscow Party and Public Organizations
November 6, 1943
COMRADES: To-day the people of the Soviet Union are celebrating the 26th Anniversary of the great October Socialist Revolution.
For the third time our country is marking the anniversary of her people's revolution in the conditions of the Patriotic War.
In October 1941, our Motherland lived through hard days. The enemy was approaching the capital and he encircled Leningrad from the land. Our troops were compelled to retreat. It demanded enormous efforts by the army and the exertion of all the forces of the people to check the enemy and deal him a serious blow before Moscow.
By October 1942, the danger to our Motherland had become even greater. The enemy stood then barely 120 kilometres (75 miles) from Moscow, had broken into Stalingrad and had entered the foothills of the Caucasus. But even in those grave days the army and the people did not lose heart, but steadfastly endured all trials. They found in themselves the strength to check the enemy and deal him an answering blow. True to the behests of the great Lenin, they defended the achievements of the October Revolution without sparing their strength or their lives. As is well known, these efforts of the army and the people were not in vain.
Soon after the October days of last year, our troops went over to the offensive and inflicted new, powerful blows on the Germans, first at Stalingrad, in the Caucasus and in the area of the middle reaches of the Don, and then, at the beginning of 1943, at Velikie Luki, before Leningrad and in the area of Rzhev and Vyazma. Since then the Red Army has never let the initiative out of its hands. Throughout the summer of this year its blows became harder and harder, its military mastery grew with every month. Since then our troops have won big victories, and the Germans have suffered one defeat after another. However hard the enemy tried, he still failed to gain any success of the least importance on the Soviet-German front.
I. A Year Marking a Radical Turn in the Course of the War
The past year, from the 25th to the 26th anniversaries of the October Revolution, marked a turn in the Patriotic War.
It was a turning-point above all because in this year the Red Army for the first time in the war succeeded in carrying through a big summer offensive against the German troops, and under the blows of our forces the German-fascist troops were compelled hurriedly to give up territory seized by them, not infrequently saving themselves from encirclement by flight and abandoning on the battlefield huge quantities of war material, stores of armaments and ammunition and large numbers of wounded officers and men.
Thus, the successes of our summer campaign in the second half of this year continued and crowned the successes achieved in our winter campaign at the beginning of this year.
Now, when the Red Army, developing the successes of the winter campaign, has inflicted a mighty blow on the German troops in the summer, it is possible to consider as finally dead and buried the fairy tale that the Red Army is incapable of conducting a successful offensive in summer. The past year has shown that the Red Army can advance in summer just as well as in winter.
In the course of the past year, as a result of these offensive operations, our troops succeeded in fighting their way forward from 500 kilometres (312 miles) in the central part of the front and up to 1,300 kilometres (812 miles) in the south (applause), liberating nearly 1,000,000 square kilometres (390,000 square miles) of territory, i.e., almost two-thirds of the Soviet soil temporarily seized by the enemy, while the enemy troops were being thrown back from Vladikavkaz to Kherson, from Elista to Krivoi Rog, from Stalingrad to Kiev, from Voronezh to Gomel, from Vyazma and Rzhev to the approaches of Orsha and Vitebsk.
Having no faith in the stability of their past successes on the Soviet-German front, the Germans already, over a long period, built powerful defence zones, particularly along the big rivers. But in this year's battles neither rivers nor powerful fortifications saved the Germans. Our troops shattered the German defences, and in only three months of the summer of 1943 skilfully forced four important water barriers—the Northern Donets, Desna, Sozh and Dnieper. I do not even mention such barriers as the German defences in the area of the river Mius, west of Rostov, and the defences in the area of the river Molochnaya, near Melitopol. At present the Red Army is successfully battering the enemy on the other side of the Dnieper.
This year marked a turning-point also because the Red Army was able in a comparatively short time to grind down the most experienced veteran cadres of the German-fascist troops, and at the same time to steel and multiply its own cadres in successful offensive battles in the course of the year. In the battles on the Soviet-German front during the past year, the German-fascist Army lost over 4,000,000 officers and men, including not less than 1,800,000 killed. Moreover, during this year the Germans lost over 14,000 planes, over 25,000 tanks and not less than 40,000 guns.
The German-fascist army to-day is not what it was at the outbreak of the war. Whereas at the outbreak of the war it had sufficient numbers of experienced cadres, now it has been diluted with newly baked, young, inexperienced officers whom the Germans are hurriedly throwing on to the front, as they have neither the necessary reserve of officers, nor the time to train them.
Altogether different is the picture presented to-day by the Red Army. Its cadres have grown and become steeled in successful offensive battles during the past year. The numbers of its fighting cadres are growing and will continue to grow, since the existence of the necessary officer reserve gives it time and opportunity to train young officer cadres and promote them to responsible posts.
It is characteristic that instead of the 240 divisions which faced our front last year, of which 179 divisions were German, this year the Red Army front is faced by 257 divisions, of which 207 divisions are German. The Germans, evidently, count on compensating for the lowered quality of their divisions by increasing their number. However, the defeat of the Germans during the past year shows that it is impossible to compensate for deterioration in the quality of divisions by increasing their number.
From the purely military point of view, the defeat of the German troops on our front by the close of this year was predetermined by two major events: the battle of Stalingrad and the battle of Kursk.
The battle of Stalingrad ended in the encirclement of a German Army 300,000 strong, its rout and the capture of about one-third of the encircled troops. To form an idea of the scale of the slaughter, unparalleled in history, which took place on the battlefields of Stalingrad, one must realize that after the battle of Stalingrad was over, 147,200 bodies of killed German officers and men and 46,700 bodies of killed Soviet officers and men were found and buried. Stalingrad signified the decline of the German-fascist army. After the Stalingrad slaughter, as is known, the Germans were unable to recover.
As for the battle of Kursk, it ended in the rout of the two main groups of the attacking German-fascist troops, and in our troops passing over to a counter-offensive, which subsequently turned into the powerful Red Army summer offensive. The battle of Kursk began with the German offensive against Kursk from the north and south. This was the last attempt of the Germans to carry out a big summer offensive and, in the event of its success, to recoup their losses. As is well known, the offensive ended in failure, the Red Army not only repulsed the German offensive, but itself passed over to the offensive and, by a series of consecutive blows, in the course of the summer period hurled the German-fascist troops back beyond the Dnieper.
While the battle of Stalingrad heralded the decline of the German-fascist army, the battle of Kursk confronted it with disaster. Finally, this year marked a turning-point because the successful Red Army offensive radically aggravated the economic and military political situation of fascist Germany, and confronted her with a profound crisis.
The Germans counted on carrying out in the summer of this year a successful offensive on the Soviet-German front, to redeem their losses and to bolster up their shaken prestige in Europe. But the Red Army upset the Germans' calculations, repulsed their offensive, itself launched an offensive and proceeded to drive the Germans westwards, thereby shattering the prestige of German arms.
The Germans counted on prolonging the war, started building defence lines and "walls," and proclaimed for all to hear that their new positions were impregnable. But here again the Red Army upset the calculations of the Germans, broke through their defence lines and "walls," and continued successfully to advance, giving them no time to drag out the war.
The Germans counted on rectifying the situation at the front by means of "total" mobilization. But here, too, events upset the Germans' calculations. The summer campaign has already eaten up two-thirds of the "totally" mobilized. However, it does not look as if this circumstance has brought about any improvement in the position of the German-fascist army. It may prove necessary to proclaim yet another "total" mobilization, and there is no reason why a repetition of such a measure should not result in the "total" collapse of a certain state. (Loud applause.)
The Germans counted on retaining a firm hold on the Ukraine in order to avail themselves of Ukrainian agricultural produce for their army and population, and of Donbas coal for the factories and railways serving the German army. But here, too, they miscalculated. As a result of the successful Red Army offensive the Germans lost not only the Donbas coal, but also the richest grain-producing regions of the Ukraine, and there is no reason to suppose that they will not also lose the rest of the Ukraine in the very near future. (Loud applause.) Naturally, all these miscalculations could not but worsen, and in fact did radically worsen, the economic and military-political position of fascist Germany.
Fascist Germany is passing through a profound crisis. She is facing disaster.
II. Nation-wide Assistance to the Front
The successes of the Red Army would have been impossible without the support of the people, without the self-sacrificing work of the Soviet people in the factories and workshops, collieries and mines, transport and agriculture. In the hard conditions of war the Soviet people have proved able to ensure for their Army everything at all necessary and have incessantly perfected its fighting equipment. Never during the whole course of the war has the enemy been able to surpass our Army in quality of armaments. At the same time our industry has given the front ever-increasing quantities of war equipment.
The past year marked a turning-point not only in the trend of military operations but also in the work of our home front. We were no longer confronted with such tasks as the evacuation of enterprises to the east and the switching of industry to production of armaments. The Soviet State now has an efficient and rapidly expanding war economy. Thus all the efforts of the people could be concentrated on increase of production and further improvement of armaments, particularly tanks, planes, guns and self-propelled artillery. Here we achieved big successes. The Red Army, supported by the entire people, has received uninterrupted supplies of fighting equipment, rained millions of bombs, mines and shells upon the enemy and brought thousands of tanks and planes into battle. One has every ground for saying that the self-sacrificing labour of the Soviet people in the rear will go down in history side by side with the Red Army's heroic struggle and the unparalleled feat of the people in defence of their Motherland. (Prolonged applause.)
Workers of the Soviet Union, who in the years of peaceful construction built up our highly developed, powerful socialist industry, have during the Patriotic War been working with intense zeal and energy to help the front, displaying true labour heroism.
Everyone knows that in the war against the U.S.S.R. the Hitlerites had at their disposal not only the highly developed industry of Germany, but also the rather powerful industries of the vassal and occupied countries. Yet the Hitlerites have failed to maintain the quantitative superiority in military equipment which they had at the beginning of the war against the Soviet Union. If the former superiority of the enemy as regards number of tanks, planes, mortars and automatic rifles has now been liquidated, if our army to-day experiences no serious shortage of arms, ammunition and equipment, the credit for this is due, in the first place, to our working class. (Loud and prolonged applause.)
The peasants of the Soviet Union, who in the years of peaceful construction on the basis of the collective farm system transformed a backward agriculture into an advanced agriculture, have displayed during the Patriotic War a high degree of awareness of the common national interest unparalleled in the history of the country-side. By self-sacrificing labour to help the front, they have shown that the Soviet peasantry considers the present war against the Germans to be its own cause, a war for its own life and liberty.
It is well known that as a result of invasion by the fascist hordes, our country was temporarily deprived of the important agricultural districts of the Ukraine, the Don and the Kuban. And yet our collective and State farms supplied the army and the country with food without any serious interruptions. Of course, without the collective farm system, without the self-sacrificing labour of the men and women collective farmers, we, could not have coped with this most difficult task. If in the third year of the war our army is not experiencing a shortage of food, and if the population is supplied with food and industry with raw materials, this is evidence of the strength and vitality of the collective farm system, of the patriotism of the collective farm peasantry. (Prolonged applause.)
A great part in helping the front has been played by our transport, primarily by railway transport, and also by river, sea and motor transport. As is known, transport is the vital means of connecting the rear and the front. One may produce large quantities of arms and ammunition, but if transport does not deliver them to the front on time they may remain useless freight as far as the front is concerned. It must be said that transport plays a decisive part in the timely delivery of arms and ammunition, food, clothing and so on to the front. If in spite of war-time difficulties and a shortage of fuel, we have been able to supply the front with everything necessary, the credit goes in the first place to our transport workers and office employees. (Prolonged applause.)
Nor does our intelligentsia lag behind the working class and peasantry in their aid to the front. The Soviet intelligentsia is working with devotion for the defence of our country, continually improving the Red Army's armaments and the technology and organization of production. It helps the workers and collective farmers to improve industry and agriculture, advances Soviet science and culture in the conditions of war.
This is to the honour of our intelligentsia. (Prolonged applause.)
All the peoples of the Soviet Union have risen as one in defence of their Motherland, rightly regarding the present Patriotic War as the common cause of all working people irrespective of nationality or religion. By now the Hitlerite politicians themselves see how hopelessly stupid were their calculations on discord and conflict among the peoples of the Soviet Union. The friendship of the peoples of our country has withstood all the hardship and trials of the war and has become tempered still further in the common struggle of all Soviet people against the fascist invaders.
Herein lies the source of the strength of the Soviet Union. (Loud and prolonged applause.)
As in the years of peaceful construction, so in the days of war, the leading and guiding force of the Soviet people has been the Party of Lenin, the Party of the Bolsheviks. No other Party has ever enjoyed, or enjoys, such prestige among the masses of the people as our Bolshevik Party. And this is natural. Under the leadership of the Bolshevik Party, the workers, peasants and intelligentsia of our country have won their freedom and built a Socialist society. In the Patriotic War the Party has stood before us as the inspirer and organizer of the nation-wide struggle against the fascist invaders. The organizational work of the Party has united and directed all the efforts of the Soviet people towards the common goal, subordinating all our forces and means to the cause of defeating the enemy. During the war, the Party has increased its kinship with the people, has established still closer links with the wide masses of the working people.
Herein lies the source of the strength of our state. (Loud and prolonged applause.)
The present war has forcefully confirmed the well-known statement of Lenin to the effect that war is an all-round test of a nation's material and spiritual forces. The history of war teaches that only those states withstood this test which proved stronger than their adversaries as regards the development and organization of their economy, as regards the experience, skill and fighting spirit of their troops, as regards the fortitude and unity of the people throughout the whole course of the war. Ours is just such a State.
The Soviet State was never so stable and unshakable as now, in the third year of the Patriotic War. The lessons of the war show that the Soviet system is not only the best form of organizing the economic and cultural development of the country in the years of peaceful construction, but also the best form of mobilizing all the forces of the people for resistance to the enemy in war time. Soviet power, established 26 years ago, has transformed our country within a short historical period into an impregnable fortress. The Red Army has the most stable and reliable rear of all the armies in the world.
Herein lies the source of the strength of the Soviet Union. (Loud and prolonged applause.)
There is no doubt that the Soviet State will emerge from the war even stronger and even more consolidated. The German invaders are ruining and devastating our land in an endeavour to undermine the power of our State. To an even greater extent than before, the offensive of the Red Army has exposed the barbarous, bandit character of the Hitlerite army. In districts seized by them, the Germans have exterminated hundreds of thousands of our peaceful civilians. Like the mediæval barbarians of Attila's hordes, the German fiends trample down our fields, burn down our towns and villages, demolish our industrial enterprises and cultural institutions. The Germans' crimes are evidence of the weakness of the fascist invaders, for only usurpers who themselves do not believe in their victory would behave in this way. And the more hopeless the position of the Hitlerites becomes, the more viciously do they rage in their atrocities and plunder. Our people will not forgive the German fiends for these crimes. We shall make the German criminals answer for all their misdeeds. (Loud and prolonged applause.)
In the areas where the fascist cut-throats have temporarily held sway, we shall have to restore demolished towns and villages, industry, transport, agricultural and cultural institutions, and create normal living conditions for the Soviet people delivered from fascist slavery. Work is already in full swing for the restoration of economy and culture in areas liberated from the enemy. But this is only the beginning. We must completely eliminate the consequences of the rule of the Germans in areas liberated from German occupation. This is a great, national task. We can and must cope with this difficult task within a short time.
III. Consolidation of the Anti-Hitlerite Coalition and Disintegration of the Fascist Bloc
The past year has marked a turning-point not only in the Patriotic War of the Soviet Union, but also in the whole world war.
The changes which have taken place during this year in the military and international situation have been to the advantage of the U.S.S.R. and the Allied countries friendly to it and detrimental to Germany and her accomplices in the plundering of Europe.
The victories of the Red Army have had results and consequences far beyond the limits of the Soviet-German front. They have changed the whole further course of the world war and acquired great international significance. The victory of the Allied countries over the common enemy has come nearer, while relations among the Allies and the fighting partnership of their armies, far from weakening, have, contrary to the expectations of the enemy, become stronger and more consolidated. The historic decisions of the Moscow Conference of representatives of the Soviet Union, Great Britain and the United States of America, published recently in the Press, are eloquent testimony of this. Now the united countries are filled with determination to strike joint blows against the enemy which will result in final victory over him.
This year the Red Army's blows at the German-fascist troops were supported by the military operations of our Allies in North Africa, in the Mediterranean Basin and in Southern Italy. At the same time the Allies subjected and are still subjecting important industrial centres of Germany to heavy air bombing and thus considerably weakening the enemy's military power. If we add to all this the fact that the Allies are regularly supplying us with various armaments and raw materials, it can be said without exaggeration that, by doing all this, they have considerably facilitated the successes of our summer campaign. Of course, the present operations of the Allied armies in south Europe cannot yet be regarded as a second front. But still it is something in the nature of a second front. Obviously, the opening of a real second front in Europe, which is not far off, would considerably hasten victory over Hitlerite Germany and still further consolidate the comradeship-in-arms of the Allied countries.
Thus, the events of the past year show that the anti-Hitlerite coalition is a firm union of the peoples and rests on a solid foundation. By now it is obvious to everybody that, by unleashing the present war, the Hitlerite clique has led Germany and her satellites into a hopeless impasse. The defeats of the fascist troops on the Soviet-German front and the blows of our Allies at the Italy-German troops have shaken the whole edifice of the fascist bloc, and it is now crumbling before our very eyes. Italy has irrevocably dropped out of the Hitlerite coalition. Mussolini can change nothing, for he is in actual fact a prisoner of the Germans. Next comes the turn of the other participants of the coalition. Finland, Hungary, Rumania, and the other vassals of Hitler, discouraged by Germany's military defeats, have now finally lost faith that the outcome of the war will be favourable to them and are anxious to find a way out of the quagmire into which Hitler has dragged them. Now that the time has come to answer for their plundering, Hitler-Germany's accomplices in plunder, but recently so obedient to their master, are now in search of a favourable moment to creep away unnoticed from the robber band. (Laughter.)
When they entered the war, the partners in the Hitlerite bloc counted on a rapid victory. Already beforehand they had decided on who would receive what—who would got the puddings and pies, who would get the bruises and black eyes. Of course they intended the bruises and black eyes for their adversaries and the puddings and pies for themselves. But now it is clear that Germany and her flunkeys will get no puddings and pies, but will have to share the bruises and black eyes. (Laughter and applause.)
Foreseeing this unattractive prospect, Hitler's accomplices are now racking their brains to find a way out of the war with as few bruises and black eyes as possible. (Laughter.)
Italy's example shows Hitler's vassals that the longer they postpone their inevitable break with the Germans and allow them to lord it in their states, the greater the devastation in store for their countries, the greater the sufferings their peoples will have to endure. Italy's example also shows that Hitlerite Germany has not the least intention of defending her vassal countries, but intends to convert them into a scene of devastating war, if only she can stave off the hour of her own defeat.
The cause of German fascism is lost, and the sanguinary "New Order" it has established is approaching collapse. In the occupied countries of Europe an outburst of the people's wrath against the fascist enslavers is developing. Germany's former prestige in the countries of her allies and in the neutral countries is lost beyond recovery; and her economic and political ties with neutral states have been undermined.
The time is long past when the Hitlerite clique made a great noise about the Germans winning world domination. Now as is known, the Germans have other matters than world domination to worry about. They have to think about keeping body and soul together. (Laughter and applause.)
Thus, the course of the war has shown that the alliance of the fascist states did not and does not rest on a reliable foundation. The Hitlerite coalition was formed on the basis of the predatory, rapacious ambitions of its members. As long as the Hitlerites were gaining military successes, the fascist coalition appeared to be a stable association. But the very first defeats of the fascist troops resulted in the actual disintegration of the bandit bloc.
Hitlerite Germany and her vassals stand on the verge of catastrophe. The victory of the Allied countries over Hitlerite Germany will put on the agenda the important questions of organizing and rebuilding the state, economic and cultural life of the European peoples. The policy of our Government. on these questions remains constant. Together with our Allies, we must:
(1) Liberate the peoples of Europe from the fascist invaders and help to rebuild their national States, dismembered by the fascist enslavers-the peoples of France, Belgium, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Greece and other States now under the German yoke, must once more become free and independent;
(2) grant the liberated peoples of Europe the full right and freedom to determine their own form of government;
(3) adopt measures to ensure that all the fascist criminals responsible for the present war and the sufferings of the people, should bear stern punishment and retribution for all the crimes perpetrated by them no matter in what country they may hide;
(4) establish such an order in Europe as will completely exclude the possibility of fresh aggression on the part of Germany;
(5) establish lasting economic, political and cultural collaboration among the peoples of Europe, based on mutual confidence and mutual assistance for the purpose of restoring economic and cultural life destroyed by the Germans.
* * * * * *
The Red Army and the Soviet people during the past year have achieved great successes in the struggle against the German invaders. We have achieved a radical turning-point in the war in favour of our country, and the war is now proceeding to its final climax. But it is not the habit of Soviet people to rest satisfied with their achievements, to exult over their successes. Victory may elude us if complacency appears in our ranks. Victory cannot be won without struggle and effort. It is achieved in fighting. Victory is now near, but to win it there must be a fresh strenuous effort, self-sacrificing work throughout the rear and skilful and resolute actions of the Red Army at the front. It would be a crime against the Motherland, against the Soviet people who have fallen temporarily under the fascist yoke, against the peoples of Europe, languishing under German oppression, if we failed to use every opportunity of hastening the enemy's defeat. The enemy must not be allowed any respite. That is why we must exert all our strength to finish off the enemy.
The Soviet people and the Red Army clearly see the difficulties of the forthcoming struggle. But to-day it is already clear that the day of our victory is approaching. The war has entered the stage when it is a question of completely expelling the invaders from Soviet soil and liquidating the fascist "New Order in Europe." The time is not far off when we shall completely expel the enemy from the Ukraine and Byelorussia, from the Leningrad and Kalinin Regions, and liberate from the German invaders the peoples of the Crimea, Lithuania, Latvia, Esthonia, Moldavia and the Karelo-Finnish Republic.
Comrades!
For the victory of the Anglo-Soviet-American fighting alliance! (Applause.)
For the liberation of the peoples of Europe from the fascist yoke! (Applause.)
For the complete expulsion of the German fiends from our soil! (Applause.)
Long live our Red Army! (Applause.)
Long live our navy! (Applause.)
Long live our gallant men and women guerillas! (Applause.)
Long live our great Motherland! (Applause.)
Death to the German invaders! (Loud and prolonged applause. All stand.)
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day, No. 309
November 7, 1943
COMRADES, men of the Red Army and Navy, sergeants, officers and generals, men and women guerillas, working people of the Soviet Union!
On behalf of the Soviet Government and our Bolshevik Party, I greet and congratulate you on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the great October Socialist Revolution.
We are celebrating the 26th anniversary of the great October Socialist Revolution at a time of glorious victories of the Red Army over the enemies of our country.
For more than two years our people have been conducting a war of liberation against the German-fascist enslavers. A year ago our Motherland was passing through grave days. At that time the enemy had seized a large part of our territory. Millions of Soviet people were languishing in German bondage. The enemy hordes were pressing on towards the Volga with the object of outflanking Moscow from the east, and were besetting the approaches to Trans-Caucasia. But the Red Army with its very bodies barred the road against the enemy. Our troops halted the foreign bandit hordes and, after routing them at Stalingrad, began vigorously to drive them to the west. Since then the Red Army has invariably held the initiative in its hands in all military operations.
In the winter of 1942-43 our gallant troops smashed the picked armies of the Germans, Italians, Rumanians and Hungarians, killed or took prisoner over 1,000,000 enemy officers and men and liberated a vast territory covering an area of about 500,000 square kilometres (195,300 sq. miles).
In the summer of 1943 the Red Army dealt the enemy another crushing blow. In the course of a few days our troops liquidated the German summer offensive and so buried Hitler's plan of routing the main forces of the Red Army and outflanking Moscow from the directions of Orel and Kursk. Moreover, the Red Army itself went over to a decisive offensive, broke through powerful enemy defence zones and, in the space of three months, drove the enemy back to the west, at some points for a distance of 400 to 450 kilometres (250-280 miles). During the summer campaign our troops drove out the enemy from the whole of the Ukraine east of the Dnieper, from the Donets Basin, from the Taman, Orel and Smolensk Regions, entered the Ukraine west of the Dnieper and captured Kiev, capital of the Soviet Ukraine, entered Byelorussia, captured the approaches to the Crimea and liberated over 160 towns and over 38,000 populated places.
During the past year the Red Army recovered from the Germans almost two-thirds of our territory previously seized by the Germans and delivered tens of millions of Soviet people from the German yoke.
During the past year the Germans lost on the Soviet-German front over 4,000,000 officers and men, including at least 1,800,000 killed.
Picked divisions of the German-fascist army met their inglorious end on the Soviet-German front and, together with them, the Hitlerite plans to conquer the world and enslave its peoples have been buried for all time.
True, the German army is still fighting stubbornly, clinging to every position, but the reverses that the Germans have sustained since the defeat of their troops at Stalingrad have undermined the fighting spirit of the German army. To-day the Germans fear encirclement like the plague, and when threatened by the outflanking manœuvres of our troops they flee, abandoning their equipment and wounded on the battlefield.
In the offensive operations of the past year our troops have gained experience in waging modern war. Our officers and generals skilfully lead their troops, successfully master the art of military leadership. The Red Army has become the most powerful and steeled of modern armies.
The Red Army's victories have still further consolidated the international position of the Soviet Union. Our army's offensive has been supported by the operations of the Allied forces in North Africa, on the Italian islands and in the south of Italy. The air forces of our Allies have subjected the industrial centres of Germany to heavy air bombing attacks. There is no doubt that the Red Army's blows from the east against the German troops, supported by blows dealt from the west by the main forces of the Allies, will lead to the crushing of the military might of Hitlerite Germany and the complete victory of the Anti-Hitlerite coalition.
The Red Army could not have gained this year's great victories without the aid rendered to the front by the whole people. The Soviet people are devoting all their strength to support their army. An endless stream of arms, ammunition, provisions and equipment is flowing to the front. The Urals and Kuznets Basin, the Moscow and Volga areas, Leningrad and Baku, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Georgia and Armenia—all our Republics and Regions have become a mighty arsenal for the Red Army. The Soviet people are successfully restoring the industrial and agricultural areas recaptured from the enemy. Factories, mills, mines and railways are being restarted, State and collective farms are being restored and the resources of the liberated areas are being enlisted to serve the front.
Our achievements are indeed great, but it would be naive to rest on the successes achieved. To-day when the Red Army is thrashing the enemy beyond the Dnieper and is pressing forward to the western borders of our country, it would be particularly dangerous to lapse into self-satisfaction or complacency and under-estimate the grave difficulties of the battles that lie ahead. The enemy will now fight more viciously than ever for each scrap of territory that he has seized, because every step forward by our army brings nearer the Germans' hour of reckoning for the crimes they have perpetrated on our soil.
The struggle for final victory over the German-fascist invaders demands still greater exertions and fresh deeds of valour on the part of our army and people.
Comrades, men of the Red Army and Red Navy, sergeants, officers and generals, men and women guerillas!
In titanic battles against the accursed enemy you have won great victories and covered the banners of the Red Army and Navy with undying glory. The Red Army and Navy now enjoy every possibility for completely clearing the German invaders from our Soviet soil in the near future.
In the name of the victory of our Motherland over the German-fascist monsters, I order:
(1) All rank and file Red Army men and sergeants: tirelessly to improve your fighting skill, strictly observe the requirements of the army regulations and the instructions and orders of your commanders and generals. Everywhere and at all times observe exemplary order, strict discipline and a high degree of organization.
(2) Officers and generals of all types of arms: improve your skill in leading troops on the battlefield and in co-ordinating all types of arms, firmly consolidate the successes of the offensive, vigorously pursue the enemy troops, bring up your rear establishments more rapidly, be bolder in gathering your reserves for fresh blows at the enemy.
(3) The whole of the Red Army: boldly and resolutely smash the enemy defences, pursue the enemy day and night, do not give him any chance to entrench himself on intermediate lines, cut the enemy's communications by skilful and daring manœuvres, surround and split up his forces, wipe out or capture his man-power and material.
(4) Men and women guerillas: rouse the Soviet people to armed struggle against the Germans, increase by every means your aid to the Red Army in its advance, smash the enemy rear establishments and headquarters, save Soviet people from being killed or driven off to slave labour in Germany, mercilessly exterminate the German-fascist scoundrels.
Red Army men, men and women guerillas! Forward to the complete defeat of the German-fascist invaders!
Long live the 26th anniversary of the great October Socialist Revolution!
Long live our victorious Red Army!
Long live our victorious Navy!
Long live our gallant men and women guerillas!
Long live our great Motherland!
Vengeance and death to the German-fascist invaders!
J. Stalin
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Moscow
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
To the Collective of the Constructors
of the Moscow underground
January, 1944
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
I congratulate the men and women workers and the technical engineering workers of the construction of the Moscow Underground; the Order of Lenin is av/arded them for their successful achievements during the difficult conditions of war, the construction of the third section of the Moscow Underground.
The construction of the Underground in the conditions of war is not only of economic and cultural significance, but also of defensive significance. The Party and the Government greatly appreciate the self-sacrificing work of the Underground construction workers.
I express the firm conviction that in the future the builders of the Underground will, by their heroic work and the intensity of their efforts, ensure the realization of the task of the State Committee for Defence - the completion of the fourth section of the Moscow Underground.
I wish the utmost success to the Collective of the Moscow Underground Construction.
J. V. STALIN
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
January 12, 1944
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Vatutin
Yesterday, January 11, troops of the 1st Ukrainian front, having forced the river Sluch, captured by storm the town of Sarny, a large railway junction and an important strong point in the German defences in the Polessye direction.
In the fighting for the town of Sarny, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-General Pukhov and Maj. General Ivanov, and artillerymen commanded by Col. Mikhailov.
To commemorate the victory, units and formations which distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Sarny will bear the name of Sarny, and are recommended for awards.
To-day, January 12, at 20,00 hours (Moscow time) the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes, from 124 guns our gallant troops which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Sarny.
For the excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Sarny.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
January 14, 1944
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Rokossovsky
Our troops of the Byelorussian front, as a result of a skilful outflanking manoeuvre, to-day, January 14, took by storm the town of Mozyr, regional centre of Byelorussia, and the large railway junction and town of Kalinkovichi, important German defence strongpoints in the Polessye direction.
In the fighting for the capture of the towns of Mozyr and Kalinkovichi, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut. General Batov, Lieut. General Belov, Lieut. General Kryukov, Maj. General Konstantinov, Maj. General I.I. Ivanov and Maj. General Alexeyev, artillerymen under Col. General of Artillery Kazakov, Maj. General of Artillery Beskin, Maj. General of Artillery Ignatov and Maj. General of Artillery Yegorov, tankmen under Maj. General of Tank Troops Panov and airmen under Lieut. General of Aviation Rudenko.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which distinguished themselves particularly in the fighting for the towns of Mozyr and Kalinkovichi will be recommended to receive the names of Mozyr and Kalinkovichi and to be awarded orders.
To-day, January 14, at 21.00 hours (Moscow time) the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the- name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the towns of Mozyr and Kalinkovichi.
For the excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the towns of Mozyr and Kalinkovichi.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
January 19, 1944
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Govorov
Our troops of the Leningrad front, having gone over to the offensive from the areas of Pulkovo and south of Oranienbaum, have broken through heavily fortified permanent German defences of great depth, and in five days of stubborn fighting have advanced in all directions from 12 to 20 kilometres and widened the breakthrough on every sector of the offensive up to 35 to 40 kilometres along the front.
As a result of the breakthrough, troops of this front on January 19 captured by storm the town of Krasnoye Selo, which had been transformed by the Germans into a fortress as well as Ropsha, a powerful strongpoint in the enemy defences and an important road junction.
In the course of the offensive our troops inflicted a serious defeat on seven German infantry divisions, and captured a large group of enemy heavy artillery which has systematically shelled the city of Leningrad.
In the breakthrough of the German defences and in the fighting for Krasnoye and Ropsha, distinction was won by troops commanded by Col.-General Maslennikov, Lieut.-General Fediun-insky, Maj.-General Simonyak, Maj.-General Andreyev, Maj.-General Fadeyev and Colonel Romanenko, artillerymen commanded by Maj.-General of Artillery Mikhalkin and Maj.-General of Artillery Chernyavsky, tankmen commanded by Colonel Zhukov, and airmen commanded by Air Marshal Golovanov, Lieut.-General of Aviation Rybalchenko, and Lieut.-General of Aviation Samokhin.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting will bear the name of "Krasnoye Selo" and "Ropsha", and are recommended for the award of Orders.
To-day, January 19, at 21 hours (Moscow time) the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns the gallant troops of the Leningrad front which broke through the German defences and captured the towns of Krasnoye Selo and Ropsha.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which carried out the breakthrough and took part in the fighting for the towns of Krasnoye Selo and Ropsha.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
January 20, 1944
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Meretskov
Having launched an offensive in the Novgorod direction, our troops of the Volkhov front forced the river Volkhov and the upper part of Lake Ilman, and having broken through the heavily fortified permanent German defences, to-day, January 20, as a result of a skilful outflanking manoeuvre, took by storm the important economic and political centre of the country, the town of Novgorod an important nodal point of communications and a powerful strongpoint in the German defences.
In the breakthrough of the German defences and. in the fighting for Novgorod, distinction was won by the troops commanded by Lieut.-General Korovnikov, Col.-General Kuznetsov, Maj.-General Mikulsky, Maj.-General Artyushenko, Maj,-General Panin, Maj.-General Solovyov, Maj.-General Burakovsky, Maj,-General Cherny-shev, Colonel Rogov, Colonel Ordanovsky, Colonel Kalinovsky, Colonel Belov, Colonel Radygin and Colonel Sebov; by artillerymen commanded by Lieut,-General of Artillery Degtyarev, Maj.-General of Artillery Dorofeyev and Colonel Sedash; by tankmen commanded by Maj.-General of Tank Troops Konomov, Colonel Urbanov, and Lieut.-Colonel Vachakashvili; and by airmen commanded by Lieut.-General of Aviation Zhuravlev.
To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting shall bear the name of Novgorod and are recommended for the award of orders.
To-day, January 20, at 20,00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the Volkhov front which broke through the German defences and captured the town of Novgorod.
For excellent military operations, I thank all the troops under your command which made the breakthrough and took part in the fighting for the town of Novgorod.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
January 21, 1944
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Govorov and Army General Meretskov
The troops of the Leningrad front with the direct assistance of the troops of the Volkhov Front, have launched an offensive in the Mga direction, pierced the strongly fortified German defences and to-day, January 21, have captured the town and important railway junction of Mga, a powerful strongpoint of the German defensive.
In the piercing of the German defences and in the fighting for the town of Mga, distinction was won by troops under Lieut.-General Sviridov, Lieut.-General Starikov, Maj.-General Paramzin, Maj.-General Absalyamov, Colonel Papchenko and ^Colonel Sokolov, artillerymen under Maj.-General of Artillery Korobchenko and Maj.-General of Artillery Berzuk, and tankmen under Colonel Kislitsin.
To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting will be recommended to bear the name of Mga and decorated with orders.
To-day, January 21, at 23-30 hours, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops which broke through the German defence and captured the town of Mga.
For. the excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which effected the breakthrough and which took part in the fighting for the town of Mga.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of bur Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
January 24, 1944
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Govorov
Troops of the Leningrad Front, continuing; their successful offensive to-day, January 24, as a result of a skilful outflanking manoeuvre and resolute frontal attack, captured the town of Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo) and the town of Pavlovsk (Slutsk) - large railway junctions and powerful strongpoints in the German defences.
In the fighting for the towns of Pushkin and Pavlovsk, distinction was won by troops commanded by Col.-General Maslennikov, Maj.-General Khazov, Maj.-General Bunkov, Maj.-General Yastrebov and Colonel Vvedensky, artillerymen under Maj.-General of Artillery Mikhalkin and Colonel Maslovsky, and tankmen under Lieut.-Colonel Grdzelishvili.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting are recommended for the award of the names of "Pushkin" and "Pavlovsk" and for decorations with orders.
To-day, January 24, at 21.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of the Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops which captured the towns of Pushkin and Pavlovsk.
For the excellent military operations, I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the towns of Pushkin and Pavlovsk.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle fox the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders.
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
January 26, 1944
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Govorov
On the night of January 25-26 troops of the Leningrad Front, developing their offensive, captured by storm the town and large railway junction of Gatchina (Krasnogvardeisk) which the Germans had converted into a fortress with an intricate system of permanent fortifications
In the fighting for the capture of the town of Gatchina distinction was won by troops commanded by Col.-General Maslennikov, Maj.-Tikhonov, Maj.-General Anissimov, Maj.-General Trubachev, Maj.-General Ratov, Maj.-General Zaionchkovsky, Maj.-General Yakutovich, Colonel Lyashchenko, Colonel Burmistrov, Colonel Demid-ov, and Colonel Batluk, artillerymen under Lieut.-General of Artillery Odintsov, Maj.-General of Artillery Mikhalkin, Colonel Ragozin and Colonel Znamensky, tankmen under Lieut.-General of Tank Troops Baranov and Colonel Zhukov, airmen under Lieut.-General of Aviation Samokhin, and sappers under Colonel Rui and Lieut.-Colonel Lomachinsky.
To commemorate the victory, the formations and units which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for Gatchina will be recommended to bear the name of Gatchina and be decorated with Orders.
To-day, January 26, at 20 hours (Moscow time) the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Gatchina.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Gatchina.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
January 28, 1944
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Meretskov
Troops of the Volkhov Front, developing their offensive, yesterday, January 27, captured the town and large railway junction of Tosno, and to-day, January 28, captured the town and important railway junction of Lyuban, and south of Lyuban they captured the railway stations of Pomeranye, Trubnikov Bor, Babino and Torfyanoye. Thus, the main railway line connecting Moscow with Leningrad - the October railway line - has been freed from the German invaders along its entire stretch, excluding the station of Chudovo, where the enemy is encircled and is being annihilated.
In fighting for the towns of Tosno and Lyuban,. distinction was won by troops under Lieut.-General Reginsky, Ma j.-General Festisov, Maj,-General Kazachek, Maj.-General Platov, Maj.-General Absalyaraov, Colonel Isakov, Colonel Tsyganov, Lieut.-Colonel Parshikov, artillerymen under Maj.-General of Artillery Petro-pavlovsky, and tankmen under Maj.-General of Tank Troops Ivanov.
To commemorate the victory, the formations and units which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting will be recommended for the award of the title "Tosno" and "Lyuban" troops, and for the award of Orders.
To-day, January 28, at 23.00 hours (Moscow time) the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our glorious troops which captured the towns of Tosno and Lyuban.
For excellent military operations, I express my thanks to all troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the towns of Tosno and Lyuban.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland. Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
January 29, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Popoov
Our troops of the Second Baltic Front to-day, January 29, as a result of a surprise attack, captured the town and large railway junction of Novo-Sokolniki, an important strong-point in the- German defence.
In the fighting for the town of Novo-sokol-niki distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-General Yushkevitch, Maj.-General Kronik, artillerymen under Lieut.-General of Artillery Nichkov, Colonel Arakushinsky, Lieut.-Colonel Zalivakin, Lieut,-Colonel Rogov and Lieut.-Colonel Kulchitsky, tankmen under Major Yeretsky and Major Merslov, airmen under Lieut.-Colonel Trushkin, and sappers under Colonel Leshev and Major Kondratyev.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting are recommended to bear the name of Novo-Sokolniki and to be decorated with Orders.
To-day, January 29, at 22.00 hours, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Novo-Sokolniki.
For the excellent military operations I express my thanks to all troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the li-beration of the town of Novo-Sokolniki.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland.
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
February 1, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Govorov
Troops of the Leningrad front, developing their successful offensive, have forced the river Luga and to-day, February 1, as a result of a skilful outflanking manoeuvre captured the town and railway junction of Kingisepp.
It is an important strongpoint in the German defences in the Narva direction.
In the fighting for the liberation of the town of Kingisepp, distinction was won by the troops commanded by Lieut.-General Fedy-uninsky, Maj.-General Alferov, Maj.-General Fadeyev, Maj.-General Aliyev, Colonel Potapov and Colonel Nikonorov, artillerymen under Maj.-General of Artillery Charnyavsky, tankmen under Lieut.-Colonel Kovalevsky, airmen under Lieut.-General, of Aviation Samokhin, and sappers under Maj,-General of Engineering troops Maryin.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting will bear the name of Kingisepp, and are recommended for the award of orders.
To-day, February 1, at 21.00 hours (Moscow time) the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with twelve artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops which took part in the fighting for Kingisepp.
For the excellent military operations, I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Kingisepp.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
February 3, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Koniev and Volutin
Troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, going over to the offensive from the area north of Kirovograd in a westerly direction, and troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front from the area southeast of Belaya Tserkov in an easterly direction having pierced the strongly fortified German defence, advanced in five days' offensive fighting from 50 to 75 kilometres in each direction to meet each other, and widened the breach of the offensive to 160-175 kilometres along the front.
As a result of these operations the troops of the 2nd and 1st Ukrainian fronts joined up in the area of Zvenigorodka-Shpola, and thus closed the ring of encirclement around the enemy .grouping operating north of this line, numbering nine infantry divisions and one tank division.
In the course of their offensive our troops captured more than 300 populated places. These included the towns of Zvenigorodka, Shpo-la, Srnyela, Boguslav and Kanev, and the large railway junctions of Bobrinskaya, Tsvetkovo and Mironovka.
In the fighting distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-General Galanin, Maj.-General Ryzhov, Lieut.-General Zhmachenko, Lieut.-General Trofimenko, Lieut.-General Koro-teyev, Maj.-General Biryukov, Maj.-General Akimenko, Maj.-General Fomenko, Maj.-General Shmygo and Maj.-General Puzikov, cavalrymen commanded by Maj.-General Selivanov, tankmen under Col.-General of Tank Troops Rotmistrov, Lieut.-General of Tank Troops Kravchenko, Maj.-General of Tank Troops Kirichenko, Maj.-General of Tank Troops Polezkov, Lieut.-General of Tank Troops Alexeyev and Lieut.-General of Tank Troops Volkov, artillerymen under Col.-General of Artillery Varentsov, Lieut.-General of Artillery Fomin, Maj.-General of Artillery Gusarov, Maj.-General of Artillery Faustov, Maj.-General of Artillery Glebov, Maj.-General of Artillery Lebedev and Col.Zykov, and airmen under Lieut.-General of Aviation Krassovsky and Lieut.-General of Aviation Goryunov. To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting on both fronts are recommended to bear the name of Zvenigorodka, and to be decorated with orders.
To-day, February 3, at 20.00 hours, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the 2nd and 1st Ukrainian Fronts which broke through the German defences and effected the encirclement of the large enemy grouping.
For the excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which effected the breakthrough and took part in the fighting for Zvenigorodka, Shpola, Srnyela, Boguslav and Kanev.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
February 5, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Volutin
Troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front, as a result of a resolute blow by mobile units and infantry and a skilfully executed outflanking manoeuvre, have captured the towns of Lutsk and Rovno, large regional centres of the Ukraine, as well as the town and important railway junction of Zdolbunov.
In the fighting for the capture of the towns of Lutsk, Rovno and Zdolbunov, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-General Pukhov, Lieut.-General Baranov, Lieut.-General Sokolov, Lieut.-General Kiryukhin, Lieut.-General Glukhov, Maj.-General Mamsurov, Maj.-General Vasilyev, Maj.-General Khrustalev, Maj.-General Zubov, Col.Borshchev and Maj.-General Pavlov, tankmen commanded by Lieut.-General of Tank Troops Novikov, Maj.-General of Tank Troops Korolev and Col. Pushkarev, artillerymen commanded by Maj.-General of Artillery Kubeyev, and sappers commanded by Col. Barash.
To commemorate the victory, the units and: formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting will be recommended to bear the name of "Lutsk" and "Rovno", and for the award of Orders.
Torday, February 5, at 21.00 hours (Moscow time) the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops which captured the towns of Lutsk, Rovno and Zdolbunov,
For excellent military operations, I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the towns of Lutsk, Rovno and Zdolbunov.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
February 6, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Malinovsky
Troops of the Third Ukrainian Front, after engaging the enemy in battles of local importance, broke through the strongly fortified German defences north-east of Krivoi Rog and north-east of Nikopol, and in four days' offensive engagements advanced from 45 to 60 kilometres and widened their breach up to 150 kilometres along the front.
In the course of the offensive our troops, having smashed four of the enemy's infantry divisions and three of his tank divisions, captured the town and large railway junction of Apostolovo, west of Nikopol, the railway station of Marganets, east of Nikopol, and over 250 other populated places reaching the lower course of the Dnieper not far from the town of Nikopol.
Thus our troops have cut off the ways of retreat to the west of the German grouping of over five infantry divisions, operating in the Nikopol area.
In the fighting, distinction was won by troops commanded by Col.-General Chuykov,Lieut.-General Glagolev, Lieut.-General Sharekhin, Lieut.-General Shlemin, Lieut.-General of Tank Troops Tanashchisin, Maj.-General Glazunov, Lieut.-General Fakanov, Lieut.-General Utvenko, Maj.-General Ruchkin, Maj.-General Kotov and Maj.-General Kuznetsov; artillerymen commanded by Lieut.-General of Artillery Nedelin, Maj.-General of Artillery Pozharsky, Maj.-General of Artillery Ratov and Lieut.-General of Artillery Voznyuk; and airmen commanded by Lieutenant of Aviation Sudets, Mai.-General of Aviation Tolstikov and Maj.-General of Aviation Shevchenko.
To commemorate the victory units and formations which distinguished themselves particularly in the fighting will be recommended to bear the names of Apostolovo and Lower Dnieper, and for the award of orders.
To-day, February 6, at 21.00 hours (Moscow time), .the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 salvoes from 224guns our gallant troops which broke through the German defences.
For excellent military operations I thank all troops under your command which carried out the breakthrough and took part in the fighting for Apostolovo and on the lower Dnieper.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fighting for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
February 8, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Tolbukhin
Troops of the Fourth Ukrainian Front, having broken through the Germans' heavily fortified defences at their bridgehead south of Nikopol on the left bank of the Dnieper, in four days' offensive engagements inflicted a heavy defeat on seven enemy infantry divisions and reached the River Dnieper along the whole length of the bridgehead.
As a result of this operation our troops have completely liquidated the operationally important German bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnieper along a front of 120 kilometres and 35 kilometres in depth. In the course of the offensive our troops captured the town of Kamenka, district centre of the Zaporozhye
Region, and over 40 other populated places.
In the fighting to liquidate the Nikopol bridgehead, particular distinction was won by the troops under Col.-General Tsvetayev, Lieut.-General Lelyushenko. Maj.-General Zhereb-in, Maj.-General Belov, Maj.-General Gorokhov, and Colonel Vladychansky; artillerymen under Lieut.-General of Artillery Krasnopevtsev; tankmen under Lieut.-General of Tank Troops Sviridov and Colonel Korbut; and airmen under Lieut.-General of Aviation Khryukin, Maj.-General of Aviation Savitsky, Maj.-General of Aviation Filih, Maj.-General of Aviation Kuznet-sov and Colonel Prutkov.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which distinguished themselves in the fighting will be recommended to bear the name of Nikopol and to be presented with awards.
To-day, February 8, at 20 O'clock (Moscow time), the capital of the Motherland, Moscow, in .the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops of the Fourth Ukrainian Front which captured the important enemy bridgehead.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liquidation of the Germans' Nikopol bridgehead.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
February 8, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Malinovsky and Army General Tolbukhin
Troops of the Third Ukrainian Front, in collaboration on the flanks with troops of the Fourth Ukrainian Front, developing their offensive, routed the Nikopol German grouping and to-day, February 8, captured by storm the town of Nikopol, the large industrial centre of the Ukraine.
In the fighting to capture Nikopol, particular distinction was won by troops under Col.-General Chuykov, Lieut.-General Shlemin, Lieut.-General Lelyushenko, Maj.-General Kupriy-anov, Maj.-General Glazunov, Maj.-General Kara-myshev, Maj.-General Golosko, Maj.-General Afanasyev, Maj.-General Zdanovich, Maj.-General Sokolov, Maj.-General Vagin, Colonel Kamynin, Colonel Fomichenko, Lieut.-Colonel Zavyalov and Lieut.-Colonel Sklyarov; artillerymen under Lieut.-General of Artillery Nedelin and Maj.-General of Artillery Levin; airmen under Lieut.-General of Aviation Sudets, Maj.-General of Aviation Tolstikov and Maj.-General of Aviation Shevchenko; and sappers under Major Zasimuk.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations, which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of Nikopol are to be recommended to bear the name of Nikopol and to be presented with awards.
To-day, February 8, at 21.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops which captured the town of Nikopol.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Nikopol.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
February 11, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Vatutin
Troops of the First Ukrainian Front, as a result of an outflanking manoeuvre and a frontal attack, to-day, February 11, captured the town of Shepetovka, a large railway junction and an important strongpoint in the German defences.
In the fighting to capture the town of Shepetovka, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-General Chernyakhovsky, Maj.-General Afonin, Maj.-General Chuvakov, Maj.-General Golosov, Maj.-General Mishchenko, Maj.-General Kozik and Colonel Petrenko; tankmen commanded by Lieut.-General of Tank Troops Poluboyarov, and Colonel Novokhatko; artillerymen commanded by Maj.-General of Artillery Frolov, and airmen commanded by Col.-General of Aviation Krasovsky.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting will bear the name of Shepetovka, and are recommended for the award of Orders.
To-day, February 11, at 21 hours (Moscow time) the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops which captured the town of Shepetovka.
For the excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Shepetovka.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
February 13, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Govorov
Troops of the Leningrad Front, developing their offensive, as a result of a skilful outflanking manoeuvre and a subsequent assault yesterday, February 12, captured the town of Luga, an important communication centre and powerful strongpoint in the German defences.
In the fighting to capture the town of Luga, distinction was won by troops under the command of Lieut.-General Sviridev, Maj.-General Trubachev, Maj.-General Khazov, Maj.-Gen-; eral Kazachek, Maj.-General Ivanov, Maj.-General. Yakutovich, Maj.-General Yastrebov, Maj.-General Bunkov, Colonel Batluk, Colonel Yelshinov and Colonel Borshchev; artillerymen commanded by Maj.-General of Artillery Korobchenko, Lieut.-Colonel Gorsky, Lieut.-Colonel Lyash-chenko, Major Vyshkov and Major Goodetsky; airmen commanded by Lieut.-General of Aviation Rybalchenko and Maj.-General of Aviation Andreyev; and sappers commanded by Majors Kulvinsky and Yerastov.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves are to be recommended to bear the name of Luga and to receive orders and awards.
To-day, February 13, at 20.00 (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops which took part in the capture of the town of Luga.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Luga.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
February 18, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Koniev
Troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, as a result of fierce engagements which lasted incessantly for 14 days, on February 17, completed their operation for the liquidation of the ten divisions and one brigade of the 8th German Army encircled in the area of Korsun-Shevchenkovsky.
In the course of this operation the Germans left on the battlefield 52,000 killed; 11,000 German officers and men surrendered. The entire German equipment and war material was captured by our troops.
In the fighting distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-General Trofimenko, Lieut.-General Smirnov and Lieut.-General Koros-eyev; cavalrymen commanded by Lieut.-General Selivanov; tankmen under Col.-General of Tank Troops Rotmistrov, Maj.-General of Tank Troops. Kirichenko and Maj.-General of Tank Troops Poloskov; and airmen under Lieut.-General of Aviation Goryunov.
To commemorate this victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting will be recommended to bear the name of Korsun and to be awarded orders.
To-day, February 18, at 1.00 (Moscow time) the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front which accomplished the liquidation of the German troops.
For excellent military operations I express my gratitude to all troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front which took part in the fighting at Korsun, and and also personally to Army-General Koniev who directed the operation for the liquidation of the encircled German troops.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fighting for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
February 22, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Malinovsky
Troops of the Third Ukrainian Front, as the result of offensive action, have today, February 22, captured by storm the town of Krivoi Rog and the area of the Krivoi Rog mines, the large industrial centre of the Ukraine and important German defence strongpoint.
In the fighting for the capture of the town of Krivoi Rog, distinction was won by troops under Lieut.-Gen. Glagolov, Lieut.-Gen. Sharokhin, Maj.-Gen. Kotov, Maj.-Gen. Kozobutsky and Maj.-Gen. Kuznetsov; artillerymen under Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Nedolin, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Alexeyenko, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Khitrovsky and Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Voznyuk; airmen under Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Sudets and Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Tolstikov.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the town of Krivoi Rog will be recommended to bear the name of Krivoi Rog and to be awarded orders.
Today, February 22, at 22.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the Third Ukrainian Front which captured the town of Krivoi Rog.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the liberation of the town of Krivoi Rog.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
February 24, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Rokossovsky
Troops of the 1st Byelorussian Front, having forced the Dnieper, broke through powerful German defences on a front of 50 kilometres, advanced 20 - 25 kilometres in three days offensive fighting, and today, February 24, captured by storm, the town and large railway station of Rogachev, an important strongpoirtt in the German defences in the Bobruisk direction.
In the fighting to capture the town of Rogachev distinction was won by the troops under Lieut.-Gen. Gorbatov, Maj,-Gen.Urbanovich; artillerymen under Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Semenov; tankmen under Lieut.-Col. Makarikov and Major Belyakov; airmen under Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Rudenko; and sappers under Col. Voronov, Major Kozhin and Captain Shaferost.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting to liberate the town of Rogachev will be recommended to bear the name of Rogachev and to be awarded orders.
Today, February 24, at 22.00 (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns the gallant troops of the 1st Byelorussian Front which captured the town of Rogachev.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting to liberate the town of Rogachev.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day, No. 16
February 23, 1944
COMRADES, Red Army men and Red Navy men, sergeants, officers and generals, men and women guerillas!
The peoples of our country meet the twenty-sixth anniversary of the Red Army in the midst of historical victories of the Soviet troops over the German-fascist troops.
For over a year the Red Army has been conducting a victorious offensive, battering the armies of the Hitlerite invaders and sweeping them off Soviet soil. During this period the Red Army successfully carried out the winter campaign of 1942-43, won the summer battles of 1943 and developed the victorious winter offensive of 1943-44. In these campaigns, without parallel in the history of wars, the Rod Army made a fighting advance to the west of up to 1,700 kilometres (1,060 miles) at some points, and cleared the enemy from nearly three-quarters of the Soviet territory he had seized.
In the course of the present winter campaign the Red Army has liquidated the powerful German defences along the whole course of the Dnieper from Zhlobin to Kherson, and thereby upset the German calculations on the successful conduct of a protracted defensive war on the Soviet-German front.
In three months of the winter campaign our gallant troops have won most important victories in the Ukraine west of the Dnieper, completed the liberation of the Kiev, Dniepropetrovsk and Zaporozhye regions, liberated the entire Zhitomir region and almost the whole of the Rovno and Kirovogi ad regions, as well as a number of districts of the Vinnitsa, Nikolayev, Kamenetz Podolsk and Volynia regions. By resolute actions the Red Army liquidated the attempts of the German counter-offensive in the Zhitomir, Krivoi Rog and Uman areas. The Soviet troops arranged a new Stalingrad for the Germans west of the Dnieper by surrounding and wiping out ten German divisions and one brigade in the Korsun-Shevchenkovsky area.
A great victory has been won by the Soviet troops at Leningrad. Our troops broke up the enemy's powerful system of permanent, deeply echeloned fortifications, routed a strong grouping of German troops, and completely freed Leningrad from the enemy's blockade and barbarous shellings. The Soviet warriors are completing the clearing of the fascist fiends from the Leningrad and Kalinin regions, and have set foot on the soil of Soviet Esthonia.
The mass expulsion of the occupationists from Soviet Byelorussia is in progress. The Gomel and Polessye regions have been almost completely liberated, as well as a number of districts of the Mogilev and Vitebsk regions.
In the unfavourable conditions of the present winter, having overcome the enemy's powerful defensive zones, our troops in three months of the winter campaign have cleared the invaders from about 200,000 square kilometres (78,125 square miles) of Soviet soil. The Red Army has recaptured from the enemy over 13,000 inhabited localities, including 82 towns and 320 railway stations. Millions more Soviet citizens have been delivered from fascist captivity. Important agricultural and industrial areas with very rich resources of iron ore and manganese have been restored to our Motherland. The Germans have lost these economically important areas, to which they clung so desperately.
By now it must be obvious to everyone that Hitlerite Germany is irresistibly heading for catastrophe. True, conditions for the prosecution of war are more favourable for Germany in the present war than during the last World War, when from the very beginning to the end of the war she waged a struggle on two fronts. However, the great drawback for Germany is the fact that in this war the Soviet Union has proved to be much stronger than the old Tsarist Russia was in the last war. In the first World War six Great Powers—France, Russia, Britain, U.S.A., Japan and Italy—fought on two fronts against the German bloc. In the present war Italy and Japan went over to Germany's side, Finland joined the fascist bloc, Rumania, who in the last war fought against Germany, changed camps. Moreover, Germany's main forces are still operating on one front, against the Soviet Union. History shows that Germany has always won wars when she fought on one front, but that she lost the war when she was forced to fight on two fronts. In the present war Germany, though fighting with her main forces on one front against the U.S.S.R., has nevertheless not only proved unable to score victory, but has been placed on the verge of disaster by the powerful blows of the armed forces of the Soviet Union. If the Soviet Union, fighting single-handed, has not only withstood the onslaught of the German war machine, but also inflicted decisive defeats on the German-fascist troops, all the more hopeless will be the situation of Hitlerite Germany when the main forces of our Allies join action, and a powerful and growing offensive of the armies of all the Allied States develops against Hitlerite Germany.
The German-fascist brigands are now tossing about in search of ways to save themselves from disaster. Again they have jumped at "total" mobilization in the rear, although Germany's man-power resources are depleted. The fascist ringleaders make desperate attempts to provoke discord in the camp of the anti-Hitler coalition and thereby to drag out the war. Hitlerite diplomats rush from one neutral country to another, striving to establish contacts with pro-Hitler elements, hinting at the possibility of a separate peace now with our State, now with our Allies. All these subterfuges of the Hitlerites are doomed to failure, as the anti-Hitler coalition is founded on the vital interests of the Allies who have set themselves the task of smashing Hitlerite Germany and her accomplices in Europe. It is this very community of basic interests that leads to the consolidation of the fighting alliance of the U.S.S.R., Britain and the U.S.A., in the progress of the war.
The hour of the final reckoning for all the crimes committed by the Hitlerites on Soviet soil and in the occupied countries of Europe is drawing near.
The victorious offensive of the Red Army became possible thanks to the new labour exploits of the Soviet people in all branches of our national economy. The working people of the Soviet Union buttressed the summer victories of the Red Army on the fronts with new production victories in the rear.
Our industrial workers fulfil before the scheduled time and exceed the programmes fixed by the State, put new factories, blast furnaces and power stations into commission. In the liberated districts they restore at an unparalleled speed the industry demolished by the invaders. The heroic efforts of the working class further strengthen the military-material base of the Red Army, and so hasten the hour of our final victory.
The Soviet peasantry supplies the State with food for the Army and for the cities, with raw materials for industry. It renders self-denying support to the Red Army.
The Soviet intelligentsia render direct and leading aid to the workers and peasants in developing production and in meeting the Red Army's requirements.
The working people of the liberated districts every day extend their aid to the Red Army—their liberator—and add the output of their factories and agriculture which they are restoring to the general stream of front-bound supplies.
There is no doubt that in the future, too, by its heroic labour and by the exertion of all its efforts, the Soviet people will ensure the uninterrupted growth of the productive forces of the country for the earliest and final rout of the German-fascist invaders.
The creation of new army formations in the Union Republics, which has been prepared by the fighting companionship of the peoples of the U.S.S.R. in the patriotic war and by the entire history of our State, will further strengthen the Red Army and will add new fighting forces to its ranks.
Comrades, Red Army men, Red Navy men, sergeants, officers and generals! Comrades, men and women guerillas!
In the great war of liberation for the freedom and independence of our Motherland, you have displayed miracles of heroism. The Red Army has achieved a decisive turn in the course of the war in our favour, and now marches confidently towards final victory over the enemy. The enemy suffers one defeat after another. However, he has not yet been smashed. Seeing the approaching doom and the inevitability of retribution for all the monstrous crimes they have committed on our soil, the Hitlerite bandits resist with the fury of doomed men. They hurl into battle their last forces and reserves, cling to every metre of Soviet ground, to every advantageous line.
For this very reason, no matter how great our successes, we must, just as before, soberly appraise the enemy's strength, be vigilant, not permit self-conceit, complacency or heedlessness in our ranks. As yet, there has been no instance in the history of war of the enemy jumping into the abyss of his own accord. To win the war one must lead the enemy to the abyss and push him into it. Only shattering blows steadily growing in weight can crush the resistance of the enemy and bring us to final victory. With this end in view, it is necessary to continue to perfect the battle training of our fighters and the military skill of the commanders of our Army. The duty of the Red Army is to raise its military art daily to a higher level, constantly and carefully to study the enemy's tactics, skilfully and opportunely to see through his cunning ruses, to counter enemy tactics with our more perfect tactics. It is necessary that the battle experience and the achievements of the foremost Guards units and formations of the Red Army should become the common property of all our troops, that the whole Red Army, all its officers and men, learn to batter the enemy according to all the rules of modern military science.
Comrades, Red Army men and Red Navy men, sergeants, officers and generals, men and women guerillas!
Greeting and congratulating you on the 26th Anniversary of the Red Army, I order:
(1) All rank and file and sergeants—infantrymen, mortar gunners, artillerymen, airmen, tankmen, sappers, signallers and cavalrymen—to continue untiringly to perfect your battle skill, to make full use of our splendid military equipment, to batter the enemy as our glorious Guardsmen batter him, to carry out with precision the orders of the commanders, to strengthen discipline and order to enhance organization.
(2) Officers and generals of all arms—to perfect the art of leading troops, tactics of manœuvre, the co-ordination of all arms in the course of battle, to apply more boldly and widely the experience of the leading Guards units and formations in combat practice, to raise to a higher level the efficiency of the work of headquarters and of army rear establishments, to improve and develop our reconnaissance to the utmost.
(3) The entire Red Army—with skilful combination of fire and manœuvre, to breach the enemy defences in their full depth, to give the enemy no respite, opportunely to liquidate enemy attempts to stern our offensive by counter-attacks, skilfully to organize the pursuit of the enemy, to prevent him from evacuating his war material, to envelop the flanks of the enemy troops by bold manœuvre, to break into the enemy rear, surround enemy troops, split them up and wipe them out if they refuse to lay down their arms.
(4) Men and women guerillas—to give increased aid to the Red Army, to raid enemy headquarters and garrisons, to harass the enemy rear, to destroy his communications and liaison, to deprive him of the opportunity of bringing up reserves.
(5) To mark the great victories won by the armed forces of the Soviet State during the course of the past year, to-day, February 23, on the occasion of the 26th Anniversary of the Red Army, at 18.00 o'clock, the gallant troops of the Red Army will be saluted with 20 artillery salvoes in Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev, Dniepropetrovsk, Gomel, Rostov.
Glory to our victorious Red Army!
Glory to Soviet arms!
Glory to our valiant men and women guerillas!
Long live our great Soviet Motherland!
Long live our All-Union Communist Party, the inspirer and organizer of the great victories of the Red Army!
Death to the German invaders!
J. Stalin
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Moscow
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
March 5, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov
Troops of the First Ukrainian Front, commanded by Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov - in place of Army-Gen. Vatutin, owing to the latters illness - on March 4, going over to the offensive, broke through the strong German defences along a front of about 180 kilometres, and in two days offensive engagements advanced from 25 - 50 kilometres.
In the course of the offensive, our troops routed four German tank divisions and eight infantry divisions, captured the town and large railway station of Izyaslavl and the towns of Shumsk, Yampol and Ostropol, and captured more than 500 other populated places, including Katrinburg, Vishgrudek, Teofipol, Bazilia, Kupel Lyakhovtsky, Belogorodka, Antoniny, Velikiye Matsevichi and Gordishche, and are fighting at the approaches to the railway station of Volochissk.
In the fighting, distinction was won by the troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Chernyakhovsky, Col.-Gen. Grechko, Lieut.-Gen. Pukhov and Lieut.-Gen. Zhuravlev; tankmen commanded by Col.-Gen. Rybalko and Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Badanov; artillerymen commanded by Col.-a Gen. of Artillery Varentsov and Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Korolkov; and airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Krasovsky.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting will be recommended to bear the names of Shumsk, Izyaslavl, Yampol and Ostropol, and be awarded orders.
Today, March 5, at 23.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front which broke through the German defences.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the break-through of the German defences.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
March 9, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Malinovsky
Troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, having gone over to the offensive, have forced the river Ingulets, broken through the strong German defences along the western bank of the river, and in four days offensive engagements advanced from 30 - 60 kilometres, widening their breakthrough to 170 kilometres along the front.
In the offensive our troops inflicted a heavy defeat on three German tank divisions and six infantry divisions, captured Novy Bug and Kazanka, district centres of Nikolayev Region, took more than 200 other populated place's, and cut the Dolihskaya-Nikolayev railway line.
In the fighting, distinction was won by troops commanded by Col.-Gen. Chuykov and Lieut. -Gen. Glagolev; cavalry commanded by Lieut.- Gen. Pliyev; tankmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Tanashchishin and Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Pushkin; troops commanded by Maj.-Gen. Morozov, Maj.-Gen. Kravtsov, Maj.- Gen. Glazunov, Maj.-Gen. Kotov, Maj.-Gen. Ruch- kin and Maj.-Gen. Kosobutsky; artillerymen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Nedelin, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Pozgarsky and Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Alexeyenko; airmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Sudets; and pontoon troops of Lieut.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Kotlyar.
To commemorate the victory, units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting will be recommended to bear the name of Novy Bug and to be awarded orders.
Today, March 9, at 21.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front which broke through the German defences.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the break-through of the German defences.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
March 9, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov
Troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front, developing their offensive, today, March 9, as a result of a skilful outflanking manoeuvre combined, with a frontal attack, captured the town of Starokonstantinov, an important strongpoint of the German defences in the Proskurov direction.
In the fighting for the capture of the town of Starokonstantinov, distinction was won by the troops commanded by Col.-Gen.Grechko, Col.-Gen. Rybalko, Lieut.-Gen. Bondarev, Maj.-Gen. Popov and Maj.-Gen. Gordeyev; artillerymen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Brichenok; tankmen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Ivanov; and airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Krasovsky.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Starokonstantinov will be recommended, to bear the name of Starokonstantinov and to be awarded orders.
Today, - March 9, at 23.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front who captured the town of Starokonstantinov.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Starokonstantinov.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
March 10, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Koniev
Troops of the Second Ukrainian Front, having resumed their offensive have broken through the strong German defences in the Uman direction, and in five days of offensive engagements advanced from 40 - 70 kilometres, and widened the breach to 175 kilometres along the front.
As a result of the operation carried out by the troops of the Front, they have captured the town of Uman, the town and important railway junction of Khristinovka, Talnoye, Buki, Mankov-ka, Babanka and Ekaterinopol, district centres of the Kiev Region, Monastyrishche, district centre of the Vinnitsa Region, and more than 300 other populated places.
In the course of the offensive our troops inflicted a heavy defeat on six German tank divisions, seven infantry divisions and one artillery division, and captured more than 500 tanks .and self-propelled guns, of which more than 200 are "Tigers," "Panthers" and "Ferdinands" in full working order, about 600 field guns of various calibres, and more than 12,000 lorries.
In the fighting distinction was won by tankmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Bogdanov, Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Kravchenko and Marshal of Armoured Tank Troops Rotmistrov, troops- commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Trofimenko, Lieut.-Gen. Koroteyev, Lieut.-Gen.Zhmachenko and Lieut.-Gen.Calanin, artillerymen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Fomin, Maj.-Gen of Artillery Lebedev, Maj.-Gen of Artillery Gusarov, and airmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Coryunov. ieut.-Gen. Koroteyev, Lieut.-Gen. Zhmachenko and Lieut.-Gen. Galanin, artillerymen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Fomin, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Lebedev, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Faustov and Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Gusarov, and airmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Goryunov.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distiguished themselves in the fighting shall be recommended to have the name of Uman conferred on them and to be awarded orders.
Today, March 10, at 21.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, will in the name of the Motherland salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the Second Ukrainian Front which broke through the German defences and routed the Uman-Khristinovka German grouping.
For the excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your, command which made the breakthrough and routed the Uman-Khristinovka German grouping.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
March 10, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Malinovsky
Troops of the Third Ukrainian Front, having forced the River Dnieper in its lower reaches, have captured the town of Berislav, and, developing their offensive, today, March 13, as a result of street fighting, captured the town of Kherson - a large junction of railway and water communications and an important strong point in the German defences at the mouth of the River Dnieper.
In the fighting distinction was won by the troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Grechkin, Maj.-Gen. Rubanyuk, Col. Mergelov and Col. Dorofeyev; artillerymen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Nedelin and Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Osmolovsky; tankmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Sviridov; airmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Sudets; and pontoon builders commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Kotlyar and Col. Sergeyev.
To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of the towns of Kherson and Berislav are recommended for conferment of the names of Kherson and Berislav and for award of orders.
Today, March 13, at 22.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in. the name of the Motherland, will salute with -20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns the gallant troops of the Third Ukrainian Front which captured the towns of Kherson and Be-rislav.
For the excellent military operation I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the towns of Kherson and Berislav.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
March 16, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Koniev
Troops of the Second Ukrainian Front, developing their offensive, yesterday, March 15, as a result of a resolute attack by formations of tanks and infantry, captured the large railway junction and town of Vapnyarka, thus cutting the most important Zhmerinka-Odessa main railway.
In the fighting for Vapnyarka distinction was won by tankmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Bogdanov and Maj.-Gen. of Tank roops Dubovoi, and troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Trofimenko and Lieut.-Gen. Zhmachenko.
To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of Vapnyarka are recommended to bear, the name of Vapnyarka and to be awarded orders.
Today, March 16, at 21.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops of the Second Ukrainian Front which captured the large railway junction and town of Vapnyarka.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all troops under your command which took part in the fighting for Vapnyarka.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
March 17, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov
Troops of the First Ukrainian Front, developing their offensive, today, March 17, as the result of an outflanking manoeuvre, captured the town of Dubno - an important strong point in the German defences in the Lvov direction.
In the fighting for the capture of the town of Dubno, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Pukhov, Lieut.-Gen. Nechayev and Maj.-Gen. Cherokmanov; tankmen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Korolev and Col. Pushkarev; and artillerymen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Kubeyev.
To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Dubno are recommended to have the name of Dubno conferred on them and to be awarded orders.
Today, March 17, at 22.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with- 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops of the First Ukrainian Front which captured the town of Dubno.
For the excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Dubno.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
March 18, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Koniev
Troops of the Second Ukrainian Front, continuing their offensive, yesterday, March 17, captured by storm the town and large railway station of Novo Ukrainka and the town and important railway junction of Pomoshnaya, which had been turned by the Germans into powerful strongpoints in their defences.
In the fighting for the capture of Novo Ukrainka and Promoshnaya distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Zhadov and Col.-Gen. Shumilov; tankmen commanded by Maj.~ Gen. of Tank Troops Katkov and Col. Brizhinev; and artillerymen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Polyeuktov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Petrov and Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Popovich.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of Novo Ukrainka and Pomoshnaya are recommended to have the name of Novo Ukrainka conferred on them and to be decorated with orders.
Today, March 18, at 20.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops of the Second Ukrainian Front which captured Novo Ukrainka and Pomoshnaya.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Novo Ukrainka and Pomoshnaya.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
March 18, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov
Today, March 18, as a result of two days fighting, the troops of the First Ukrainian Front captured the operationally important railway junction and town of Zhmerinka.
In the fighting for the capture of Zhmerinka, distinction was won by troops commanded by Col.-Gen. Moskalenko and Lieut.-Gen. Golubovsky; tankmen commanded by Col. Belyayev; artillerymen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Likhachev; and airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Krasovsky and Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Kamanin.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of Zhmerinka shall be recommended to bear the name of Zhmerinka and to be awarded orders.
Today, March 18, at 21.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops of the First Ukrainian Front which captured Zhmerinka.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part.in the fighting for the liberation of Zhmerinka.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
March 19, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov
Today, March 19, troops of the First Ukrainian Front, as the result of an outflanking manoeuvre and frontal attack, captured the town of Kremenets, a powerful natural fortress on the crest of the Kremenets Hills, strengthened by the Germans with a well-developed network of artificial fortifications.
In the fighting for the capture of the town of Kremenets, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Pukhov and Lieut.-Gen. Kiryukhin; artillerymen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Kubeyev and Col. Sussky; tankmen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Korolev; and airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Krasovsky, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Galunov and Col. Lozhechnikov.
To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of Kremenets will be recommended to bear the name of Kremenets and to be awarded orders.
Today, March 19, at 21.00 hours (Moscow; time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow,; in the name of the Motherland, will salut with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops of the First Ukrainian Front which captured Kremenets.
For excellent military operations I express-my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Kremenets.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
March 20, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Koniev
Troops of the First Ukrainian Front today, March 20, captured by storm and an outflanking manoeuvre the regional and large industrial centre of the Ukraine, the town of Vinnitsa, which had been converted by the Germans into a powerful strongpoint of their defences on the Southern Bug.
In the fighting for the capture of Vinnitsa distinction was won by troops commanded by Col.-Gen. Moskalenko, Lieut.-Gen. Sheverdin and Maj.-Gen. Kislitsyn, artillerymen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Likhachev, tankmen commanded by Col. Belyayev and airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Krasovsky and Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Kamanin.
To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of Vinnitsa will be recommended for the conferment of the name of Vinnitsa and for award of orders.
Today, March 20, at 20.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of the Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns the gallant troops of the First Ukrainian Front which captured the town of Vinnitsa.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Vinnitsa.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
March 20, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov
Troops of the Second Ukrainian Front, as a result of a vigorous manoeuvre by tank formations and infantry, yesterday, March 19, captured the town of Mogilev-Podolski, large railway junction and important strongpoint of the German defence on the Dniester.
In the fighting for the capture of Mogilev-Podolski distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Trofimenko, Lieut.-Gen. Goryachev and Maj.-Gen. Semenov; tankmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Kravchenko and Lieut. Gen. of Tank Troops Volkov; artillerymen commanded by Col. Kabatchikov and sappers commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Tsirlin.
To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Mogilev-Podolski will be recommended for conferment of the name of Mogilev-Podolski and for the award of orders.
Today, March 20, at 20.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of the Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns the gallant troops of the Second Ukrainian Front which captured the town of Mogilev-Podolski.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Mogilev-Podolski.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
March 22, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Koniev
Troops of the Second Ukrainian Front, continuing their offensive, today, March 22, after two days stubborn fighting, captured the town of Pervomaisk, an important railway junction and. powerful strongpoint in the German defences in the middle reaches of the Southern Bug.
In the fighting for the capture of the town of Pervomaisk, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Zhadov, Col.-Gen. Shumilov, Lieut.-Gen. Rodimtsev, Maj.-Gen. Lebedenko, Maj.-Gen. Akimenko, Maj.-Gen. Morozoy, Maj.-Gen. Baklanov and Maj.-Gen. Lilenkov, artillerymen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Poluektov, and tankmen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Katkov.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Pervomaisk will be recommended for conferment of the name of Pervomaisk and award of orders.
Today, March 22, at 21.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12- artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops of the Second Ukrainian Front which captured the town of Pervomaisk.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Pervomaisk.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
March 24, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov
Troops of the First Ukrainian Front, having beaten off all enemy counter-attacks in the Tarnopol-Proskurov sector and worn down in these engagements the counter-attacking German tank and infantry divisions, a few days ago, unexpectedly for the enemy, went over to the offensive and broke through his front.
In four days offensive engagements troops of the First Ukrainian Front advanced from 60 - 100 kilometres, captured the town and operationally important railway junction of Ghertkov, the town of Gusyatin and the town and the railway junction of Zaleshchiki on the River Dniester, and liberated over 400 other populated places.
In fighting to achieve the breakthrough and to capture the towns of Chertkov, Gusyatin and Zaleshchiki, distinction was won by troops commanded by Col.-Gen. Chernyakhovsky, Col.-Gen. Grechko, Lieut.-Gen. Zhuravlev, Col.-Gen. Moskalenko, Lieut.-Gen. Lyudnikov, Maj.-Gen. Chuvakov, Maj.-Gen. Zamertsev, Maj.-Gen. Lazko and Maj.-Gen. Shmygo; tankmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Katukov, Col,-Gen. Rybalko, Lieut.-Gen. Lelyushenko, Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Getman, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Dremov, Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Panfilov, Maj.-Gen. of' Tank Troops Ivanov, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Malygin and Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Polubayurov; artillerymen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Artillery Varentsov, Maj.-Gen. of. Artillery Brichenok, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Likhachev, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Volchok, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Sanko and Col.Razumovsky; airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Kras-ovsky, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Polunov, Maj. Gen..of Aviation Golovnya, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Kamanin, Col. Kotelnikov, Col. Yuzeyev and Capt. Titarenko.
To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting to achieve the breakthrough and for the liberation of the towns Chertkov, Gusyatin and Zaleshchiki will be recommended for conferment of the names Chertkov, Gusyatin and Zaleshchiki and for the award of orders.
Today, March 24, at 22.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns the gallant troops of the First Ukrainian Front which broke through the German defences in the Tarnopol-Proskurov sector.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
March 25, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov
Troops of the First Ukrainian Front today, March 25, after stubborn fighting, captured the town and large railway junction of Pros-kurov, a powerful strongpoint of the German defences.
In the fighting for Proskurov, distinction was won by troops commanded by Col.-Gen.Grechko, Maj.-Gen. Gordeyev, Maj.-Gen. Shmygo and Col. Chernov; tankmen commanded by Col.-Gen. Rybalko, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Malygin and Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Panfilov; artillerymen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Artillery Varentsov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Brichenok, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Volkinshtein and Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Sanko; airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Krasovsky, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Golovnya, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Lakeyev, Col. Kotelnikov and Col. Nechiporenko; and sappers commanded, by Col. Stonog.
To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Proskurov will be recommended to bear the name of Proskurov and to be awarded orders.
Today, March 25, at 21.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns the gallant troops of the First Ukrainian Front which captured the town of Proskurov.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Proskurov.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
March 26, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Koniev
Several days ago troops of the Second Ukrainian Front, continuing their vigorous offensive, forced the River Dniester on a front of 175 kilometres, captured the town and important railway junction of Byeltsy and, developing their offensive, reached our State frontier - the river Pruth - on a front of 85 kilometres.
In the fighting for the forcing of the Dniester, the capture of the town and railway junction of Byeltsy and the reaching of the State frontier, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Koroteyev, Lieut. -Gen. Trofimenko, Lieut.-Gen. Zhmachenko, Lieut. -Gen. Managarov and Lieut.-Gen. Galanin; tankmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen.of Tank Troops Bogdanov, Marshal of Armoured Troops Rotmistrov and Lieut. Gen. of Tank Troops Kravchenko; artillerymen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Fomin; airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Goryunov; and sappers commanded by Col. Glezer, Col. Ponimash, Col. Malnov and Col. Petrov.
To commemorate the victory the units and -formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the forcing of the Dniester, the capture of Byeltsy and the reaching of the State frontier will be recommended to bear -the name of Dniester and to be awarded orders.
Today, March 26, at 21.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland., Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 24 artillery salvoes from 324 guns our gallant troops of the Second Ukrainian Front which forced.the Dniester and reached our State frontier.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for forcing the Dniester, capturing Byeltsy and reaching the State frontier.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
March 27, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov
Troops of the First Ukrainian Front, de-; veloping their offensive yesterday, March 26,-as a result of a vigorous blow by tank format: ions and infantry, captured the Regional-; centre of the Ukraine, the town of Kamenets — Podolsk, a powerful strongpoint of the German-defences on the Dniester.
In the fighting for the town of Kamenets-Podolsk, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Lelyushenko, tankmen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Tank Corps Belov, Lieut.-Gen. Akimov, Col. Smirnov, Col. Zhukov, Col. Denisov, Col. Fomichev, Col. Medvedyev, Col. Turkin and Col. Ryvzh, artillerymen commanded by Col. Rubasov, airmen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Golovnya, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Kamanin, Col. Kotelnikov and Col. Nechiporenko, and sappers commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Plagoslavov and Col. Yepifanov.
To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of Kamenets-Podolsk will be recommended for conferment of the name Kamenets-Podolsk and for award of orders.
Today, March 27, at 21.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the First Ukrainian Front which captured the town of Kamenets-Podolsk.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Kamenets-Podolsk.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
March 28, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army Gen. Malinovsky
Troops of the Third Ukrainian Front today, March 28, after stubborn fighting, captured by storm the large regional and industrial centre of the Ukraine, the town of Nikolayev - an important railway junction, one of the largest ports on the Black Sea and a powerful strongpoint of the German defences at the mouth of the Southern Bug river.
In the fighting for the capture of the town, of Nikolayev, distinction was won by troops commanded by Col.-Gen. Tsvetayev, Lieut. -Gen. Grechkin, Lieut.-Gen. Shlemin, Maj.-Gen. Belov, Maj.-Gen. Gorokhov, Maj.-Gen. Rubanyuk, Col. Margelov and Col. Dorofeyev; tankmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Sviridov; artillerymen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Nedelin, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Omolovsky, Col. Solovyev, Col. Nikitin and Lieut.-Col. Popov; airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Sudets; sappers commanded by Col.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Kotlyar, and marines under Maj. Kotanov.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Nikolayev will be recommended to bear the name of Nikolayev and to be awarded orders.
Today, March 28, at 22.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the Third Ukrainian Front which captured the town of Nikolayev.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Nikolayev.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
March 29, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov
Troops of the First Ukrainian Front, as the result of a skilful manoeuvre by tank formations and infantry, captured the town and large railway junction of Kolomiya - an important strongpoint of the German defences in the foothills of the Carpathians.
In the fighting for the capture of the town of Kolomiya distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Katukov and Maj.-Gen. Zamirvsky, tankmen commanded by Maj,-Gen. of Tank Troops Dremov, Col. Gorelov and Capt. Bochkovsky, and sappers commanded by Col. Kharchevin.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Kolomiya will be recommended for conferment of the name Kolomiya and award of orders.
Today, March 29, at 21.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops of the First Ukrainian Front which captured the town of Kolomiya.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Kolomiya.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
March 30, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov
Troops of the First Ukrainian Front, developing their offensive, forced the river Pruth and captured by storm the Regional town of the Ukraine - Chernovitsy, an important economic and political centre of Northern Buko-vina, and a powerful strongpoint of the German defences on the river Pruth covering the approaches to the frontiers of Hungary and Rumania.
In the fighting for the capture of the town of Chernovitsy, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Katukov, Maj.-Gen. Zamertsev and Maj.-Gen. Prokhorov; tankmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Getman, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Dremov, Col. Morgunov, Lieut.-Col. Koshelev, Lieut.-Gol. Gusakovsky, Lieut.-Col. Boik and Lieut.-Col. Kochura; artillerymen commanded by Col. Vishnevsky and Col. Kamensky; sappers commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Blagosladov and Maj.-Gen. Kharchevin; and airmen commanded by Maj.-Gen, of Aviation Lakeyev, Col. Nechiporenko and Col. Fedulev.
To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Chernovitsy will be recommended for conferment of the name Chernovitsy and for award of orders.
Today, March 30, at 20.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the First Ukrainian Front which captured the town of Chernovitsy.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Chernovitsy.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
March 31, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Malinovsky
Troops of the Third Ukrainian Front, developing their offensive, captured the fortress and town of Ochakov, important strongpoint of the German defences dominating the entrance to the Dnieper-Bug estuary.
In the fighting for the capture of Ochakov, distinction was won by troops commanded by Col.-Gen. Tsvetayev, Col. Nikitin and Col. Dorofeyev; artillerymen commanded by Col. Mazovsky and Lieut.-Col. Portnov, sappers commanded by Col. Furs, and sailors commanded by Lieut.-Col. Neimark.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of Ochakov shall be recommended for conferment of the name Ochakov and award of orders.
Today, March 31, at 20.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops of the Third Ukrainian Front which captured Ochakov.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Ochakov.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
April 5, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov
Troops of the Third Ukrainian Front, continuing their offensive, as a result of a vigorous blow by infantry, cavalry and mechanized formations captured the town and large railway junction of Razdelnaya, important strongpoint of the German defences at the approaches to Odessa, thus -cutting the main roads of retreat to Rumania of the Odessa enemy grouping.
In the fighting for the capture of Razdelnaya distinction was won by troops commanded by.Lieut.-Gen. Sharokhin and Maj.-Gen. Kuznetsov, cavalrymen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Pliyev, tankmen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Zhdanov, and artillerymen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Khitrovsky.
To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for Razdelnaya will be recommended for conferment of the name Razdelnaya and award of orders.
Today, April 5, at 20.00 hours (Moscow time) the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns the gallant troops of the Third Ukrainian Front which captured Razdelnaya.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Razdelnaya.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
April 8, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov
Troops of the First Ukrainian Front, having inflicted a defeat on the enemy in the foothills of the Carpathians, have reached our State Frontier, with Czechoslovakia and Rumania along a front of up to 200 kilometres. Pursuing the retreating enemy, troops of this Front captured the town of Seret and more than 30 other populated places on Rumanian territory.
In the fighting to reach our South-Western Frontier, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Katukov, Maj.-Gen. Zamertsev, Maj.-Gen. Prokhorov, Maj.-Gen. Zamirovsky and Col. Lemantovich; tankmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Getman, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Dremov, Lieut, Col. Boiko; artillerymen commanded by Col. Vishnevsky and Col. Razumovsky; airmen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Galunov; and sappers commanded by Lieut.-Col. Sokolov, Maj. Temkin and Maj. Yakovlev.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting to defeat the enemy at the Carpathian foothills and to cross the South-Western State Frontier will be recommended for conferment of the name Carpathian, and award of orders.
Today, April 8, at 20.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of the Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 24 artillery salvoes from 324 guns our gallant troops of the First Ukrainian Front which reached the South-Western State Frontier.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting to reach our South-Western State Frontier.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
April 8, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Koniev
Troops of the Second Ukrainian Front have forced the River Pruth north of Jassy on a sector 170 kilometres long, broken through enemy defences and captured the towns of Doro-khai and Botoshany, and have also captured in fighting more than 150 other populated places. They pursued the enemy troops and reached the River Seret along a front of 85 kilometres.
In the fighting to break through the enemy defences and to cross the River Pruth, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Zhraachenko, Lieut.-Gen. Trofimenko, Lieut.-Gen. Koroteyev, Lieut.-Gen. Goryachev, Maj.-Gen. Martirosyan, Maj.-Gen. Bobrov, Maj.-Gen. Mikhailov, Maj.-Gen. Merkulov, Col. Karlov, Col. Gizatulin, Col. Konev, Col. Vronsky, Col. Umansky, Col. Kolesnikov and Col. Puteiko; tankmen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Barausov, Col. Styzhik and Col. Andreyev; artillerymen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Lebedev, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Faustov and Gol. Mentyukov; airmen commanded by Col. Tara-nenko and Lieut.-Col. Shundrikov; and sappers commanded by Col. Petrov, Col. Ponemash, Col. Glezer, Col. Prokovsky and Col. Budarin.
To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting to break through nemy defences and cross the River Pruth, will be recommended.for conferment of the name Pruth, and award of orders.
Today, April 8, at 21.00 hours (Moscow time) the capital of the Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the Second Ukrainian Front which broke through the enemy defences and crossed the River Pruth.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting to break through the enemy defences and cross the River Pruth.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
April 10, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Malinovsky
Today, April 10, troops of the Third Ukrainian Front, as a result of a skilful out flanking manoeuvre by infantry and mechanised cavalry formations, combined with a frontal attack, captured the important economic and political centre of the country, Regional town of the Ukraine and first-class Black Sea port Odessa, powerful strongpoint of the German defences covering the roads to the central districts of Rumania.
In the fighting for the capture of Odessa distinction was won by troops commanded by Col.-Gen. Tsvetayev, Lieut.-Gen. Shlemin, Col.-Gen. Chuykov, Lieut.-Gen. Glazunov, Lieut.-Gen. Morozov, Maj.-Gen. Gorokhov, Maj.-Gen. Rubanyuk, Maj.-Gen. Kuprianov and Maj.-Gen. Makovchuk; cavalry formations of Kuban Cossacks, commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Pliyev; tankmen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Zhdanov; artillerymen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Artillery Nedelin, Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Voznyuk, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Levin and Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Kosenko; airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Sudets, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Tolstikov and Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Shevchenko; and signallers commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Signals Leonov.
To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of Odessa will be recommended for conferment of the name Odessa, and award of orders.
Today, April 10, at 20.00 hours (Moscow time) the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, shall salute with 24 artillery salvoes from 324 guns our gallant troops which have liberated Odessa. At the same time ships of the Black Sea Fleet -shall fire a salute of 12 artillery salvoes from 120 guns in honour of the troops which liberated the most important Black Sea port of Odessa from the German invaders.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Odessa.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Stalin and Benes exchange messages
April, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
From President Benes to Marshal Stalin
At the moment when the victorious Red Army, and with it the Czechoslovak Brigade have reached the frontiers of our Republic I convey to you, as the Supreme Commander-in Chief and the representative of the People of the Soviet Union, on behalf of our people and of the Czechoslovak Government, and in my own name, the most cordial greetings.
By entering the territory of our homeland today, the Red Army is achieving a great new victory over our common foe, and is bringing our people freedom and the hope of a happier and secure future.
In this historic moment we not only remember all our ancient bonds of friendship, sealed anew by my recent journey to Moscow and the signature of our new Agreement, but also rejoice in the forecast of our collaboration in securing European peace together with the other Allies and for the good of our two countries.
Our common sufferings and our common struggle guarantee the durability of the bonds between us, both now and in the future.
We salute heartily and with gratitude the forces of the Red Army, which together with Czechoslovak soldiers, are entering the territory of our beloved Motherland.
From Marshal Stalin to President Benes
I thank you for the friendly greetings on the occasion of the Red Army's successes when the Soviet Forces reached the frontier of Czechoslovakia.
I have no doubt that the common struggle of our nations against the common foe will lead in a short time to the restoration of the freedom and independence of the Czechoslovak Republic.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
April 11, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Tolbukhin
Troops of the Fourth Ukrainian Front, having gone over to the offensive, having broken through the heavily fortified enemy defences on the Perekop Isthmus, captured the town of Armyansk and, having advanced about 20 kilometres, reached the Ishun positions. Simultaneously troops of the Front, having forced the Sivash east of the town of Armyansk, broke through the deeply echeloned enemy fortifications in the area of the lake defiles on the southern shores of the Sivash and, advancing about 60 kilometres in four days of offensive engagements, captured the vital railway junction of the Crimea, Dzhankoi.
In the fighting distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Zakharov, Lieut. -Gen. Kreizer, Lieut.-Gen. Chanchibadze, Lieut.-Gen. Kolomiets, Maj.-Gen. Neverov, Maj.-Gen. Lovyagin, Maj.-Gen. Koshevoy, Maj.-Gen.Tsalikov, Maj.-Gen. Kazartsev, Maj.-Gen. Stankovsky, Maj.-Gen. Bobrakov, Col. Inavov, Col. ToLstov, Col. Volosatykh and Col. Malyukov; tankmen, commanded by Col. Potseluyev and Lieut.-Col. Barabash; artillerymen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Artillery Krasnopovtsev, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Verbitsky, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Telegin, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Alexeyev, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Gaponov, Col. Vasilenko and Col. Pavlov; airmen commanded by Lieut. -Gen. of Aviation Khryukin, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Filin, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Savitsky, Col. Prutkov and Col. Geybo, and sappers commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Kolesnikov and Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Bazhenov.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting shall be recommended for conferment of the names of Perekop and Sivash, and for the award of orders.
Today, April 11, at 21.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the Fourth Ukrainian Front which broke through the enemy defences in the Perekop and Sivash, and captured Dzhankoi.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the breakthrough of the enemy defences.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
April 11, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Tolbukhin
Troops of the Independent Maritime Army have launched an offensive, pierced the strongly fortified enemy defences on the Kerch Peninsula, and today, April 11, have captured the town and fortress of Kerch, an important strongpoint in the German defences on the eastern shores of the Crimea, and advanced about 30 kilometres westwards from Kerch.
In the fighting . for the breakthrough of the enemy defences and the capture of the town and fortress of Kerch, distinction was won by troops commanded by Maj.-Gen. Rozhdestvensky, Maj.-Gen. Shvarev and Maj.-Gen. Provalov; artillerymen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Sokolosky and Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Degtyarev; tankmen commanded by Col. Dergunov, airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Vershinin and Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Yermachenko; sappers commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Pilipets; and sailors commanded by Rear-Admiral Gorshkov and Lieut.-Col. Yablonsky.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the breakthrough of the enemy defences and for the liberation of Kerch shall be recommended for the conferment of the name Kerch and for the award of orders.
Today, April 11, at 22.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the Independent Maritime Army which broke through the enemy defences and captured the town and fortress of Kerch.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the breakthrough of the enemy defences and in the fighting for the liberation of Kerch.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
April 13, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Yeremenko
Troops of the Independent Maritime Army, having broken through the enemy defences on the Ak-Monai' positions, today, April 13, captured the town and port on the Black Sea, Feodosia, important strongpoint of the enemy defences on the south-east coast of the Crimea.
In the fighting for the capture of the town and port of Feodosia, distinction was. won by troops commanded by Maj.-Gen. Provalov, Maj.-Gen. Koldubov, Maj.-Gen. Gorbachov, Col. Preobrazhensky and Col. Vassilenko; artillerymen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Sokolsky, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Degtyarev, Col. Kalinin, Col. Durba and Lieut.-Col. Morozov; tankmen commanded by Col. Dergunov, Col. Rudakov, Maj. Soichenko and Maj. Malyshev; sappers under Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Pilipets; and, airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Vershinin and Lieut.-Col. of Aviation Yermachenko.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of Feodosia will be recommended for conferment of the name Feodosia and the award of orders.
Today, April 13, at 20.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of the Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns the gallant troops of the Independent Maritime Army which captured the town and port of Feodosia.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Feodosia.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
April 13, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Tolbukhin
Troops of the Fourth Ukrainian Front, continuing their successful offensive, today, April 13, as a result of a bold blow struck by tank formations and infantry, captured the town and Black Sea port of Eupatoria, important strongpoint of the German defences on the west coast of the Crimea.
In the -fighting for the capture of Eupatoria, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Zakharov, Lieut.-Gen. Chanchibadze, Maj.-Gen. Tsalikov and Lieut.-Col. Puzanov; artillerymen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Strelbitsky, Maj. Mozgunov and Lieut.-Col. Chizhinov; tankmen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Yudin; and airmen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Kuznetsov and Col. Chuchev.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting will be recommended for conferment of the name Eupatoria and for the award of orders.
Today, April 13, at 21.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns gallant troops of the Fourth Ukrainian Front which liberated the town and port of Eupatoria.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Eupatoria.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
April 13, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Tolbukhin
Troops of the Fourth Ukrainian Front, developing their offensive, today, April 13, as a result of vigorous attacks by tank formations and infantry, captured the capital of the Crimea, Simferopol, main strongpoint of the enemy defences covering the roads to the ports on the south coast of the Crimean Peninsula.
In the fighting for the capture of Simferopol, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Kreizer, Maj.-Gen.Razuvayev, Maj.-Gen. Koshevoi, Maj.-Gen. Potapenko, Maj.-Gen. Bobrakov and Col. Rodionov; tankmen commanded by Col. Solovyev, Col. Potsoluyev, Col. Feshchenko, Col. Zhidkov, Lieut.-Col. Arkhipov, Lieut.-Col. Kromchenko, Lieut.-Col. Khrapovitsky and Maj. Nedelko; artillerymen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Telegin, Col.Kaplanov, Col. Vassilenko, Col. Pavlov, Col. Kalnichenko, Lieut.-Col. Yaromenko, Lieut.-Col. Matsiyevsky and Lieut.-Col. Vlasenko; signal troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Signals Troops Korolev and Col. Obanichev; sappers commanded by Col. Pavlov and Maj. Sychev; and airmen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Savitsky, Col. Geibo, Col. Karyakin, Col. Prutkov and Col. Sitkin.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of Simferopol will be recommended for conferment of the name Simferopol and for award of orders.
Today, April 13, at 22.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the Fourth Ukrainian Front which captured Simferopol.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Simferopol.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the- struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
April 15, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov
Troops of the First Ukrainian Front, after stubborn street fighting, have completely captured the regional centre of the Ukraine, the town of Tarnopol, large railway junction and powerful strongpoint of the German defences in the Lvov direction.
In the fighting for the capture of Tarno-pol, distinction was won by troops commanded by Col.-Gen. Kurochkin, Lieut.-Gen. Lyudnikov, Maj.-Gen. Popov, Maj.-Gen. Mishchenko, Col. Ignachev, Col. Kucherenko, Col. Volkovich and Col. Lashchenko; artillerymen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Frolov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Volkinshtein, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Volchek, Col. Bogatyrev, Col. Dzevulsky, Col. Lyubimov, Col. Reutov, Col. Titenko, Col. Che-vola, Col. Belov and Lieut.-Col. Bazelenko; tankmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Poluboyarov and- Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Romanov; airmen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Kamanin, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Galunov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Fedulyev and Col. Yuzeyev; and sappers commanded by Col. Serebryakov.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of Tarnopol will be recommended for conferment -of the name Tarnopol and for award of orders.
Today, April 15, at 20.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the First Ukrainian Front which captured the town of Tarnopol.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Tarnopol.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
April 16, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Yeremenko
Troops of the Independent Maritime Army, developing their offensive, captured the town and Black Sea port of Yalta, one of the strongpoints of the enemy defences on the southern coast of the Crimea.
In the fighting for the capture of Yalta, distinction was won by troops commanded by Maj.-Gen. Provalov, Maj.-Gen. Luchinsky, Maj.- Gen. Rozhdestvensky, Maj.-Gen. Koldubov and Col. Preobrazhensky; artillerymen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Sokolsky, and sappers commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Pilipets.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for Yalta will be recommended for conferment of the name Yalta and for award of orders.
Today, April 16, at 20.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops of the Independent Maritime Army which captured Yalta.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Yalta.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
April 17, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin
Today, April 17, at 18.00 hours, the funeral of Array General Vatutin, Commander of the First Ukrainian Front, will take place in the town of Kiev. The Army and Fleet of the Soviet Union lower their military banners before the grave of Vatutin, and render homage to one of the finest generals of the Red Army.
I order: At the hour of his interment Army General Vatutin shall be given his last military honour and, in the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, there will be a salute of 24 artillery salvoes from 24 guns.
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day, No. 70
May 1, 1944
COMRADES, Red Army men and Red Navy men, sergeants, officers and generals, men and women guerillas! Working people of the Soviet Union! Brothers and sisters who have temporarily fallen under the yoke of the German oppressors, and who have been forcibly driven to fascist slave labour in Germany!
On behalf of the Soviet Government and of our Bolshevik Party, I greet and congratulate you upon May Day!
The peoples of our country meet the day of May 1, in the midst of outstanding successes of the Red Army.
Since the defeat of the German divisions at Stalingrad, the Red Army has been conducting a practically incessant offensive. During this time the Red Army has made a fighting advance from the Volga to the Sereth, from the foothills of the Caucasus to the Carpathians, exterminating the enemy vermin and sweeping it out of the Soviet land.
In the course of the winter campaign of 1943-44, the Red Army has won the historic battle for the Dnieper and for the territories of the Ukraine west of the Dnieper, crushed the powerful German fortified defences at Leningrad and in the Crimea, by skilful and vigorous actions overwhelmed the German defence on the water-barriers of the Southern Bug, Dniester, Pruth, Sereth. Nearly the entire Ukraine, Moldavia, the Crimea, the Leningrad and Kalinin Regions, and a considerable part of Byelorussia have been cleared of the German invaders. The metal industry of the south, the ore of Krivoi Rog, Kerch and Nikopol, the fertile lands between the Dnieper and the Pruth have been restored to the Motherland. Tens of millions of Soviet people have been delivered from fascist slavery.
Acting in the great cause of the liberation of their native land from the fascist invaders, the Red Army has emerged on our State frontiers with Rumania and Czechoslovakia and now continues battering the enemy troops on the territory of Rumania.
The successes of the Red Army became possible thanks to the correct strategy and tactics of the Soviet Command, thanks to the high morale and offensive ardour of our men and commanders, thanks to our troops being well supplied with first-rate Soviet war equipment, thanks to the improved skill and training of our artillerymen, mortar gunners, tankmen, airmen, signalmen, sappers, infantrymen, cavalrymen and scouts.
A considerable contribution to these successes has been made by our great Allies, the United States of America and Great Britain, which hold a front in Italy against the Germans and divert a considerable part of the German troops from us, supply us with very valuable strategical raw materials and armaments, subject military objectives in Germany to systematic bombing and thus undermine the latter's military might.
The successes of the Red Army could, however, prove unstable and could be reduced to naught after the very first serious counterblow from the enemy, were not the Red Army backed from the rear by our entire Soviet people, by our entire country. In the battles for the Motherland the Red Army has displayed unexampled heroism. But the Soviet people has not remained in debt to the Red Army. Under difficult war-time conditions the Soviet people has attained decisive successes in mass production of armaments, ammunition, clothing and provisions, and in their timely delivery to the fronts of the Red Army. During the past year the power of Soviet industry has substantially risen. Hundreds of new factories, mines, dozens of power-stations, railway lines and bridges have been commissioned. Fresh millions of Soviet people have taken their places at machine-tools, mastered the most complex trades, become experts in their jobs. Our collective farms and State farms have stood the trials of war with credit. Under difficult war-time conditions the Soviet peasants work in the fields without folding their hands, supplying our army and population with food and our industry with raw materials. And our intellectuals have enriched Soviet science and technology, culture and art with new outstanding achievements and discoveries. Invaluable services in the cause of defence of the Motherland have been rendered by Soviet women, who work self-sacrificingly in the interests of the front, courageously bear all war-time hardships and inspire to fighting exploits the soldiers of the Red Army—the liberators of our Motherland. The Patriotic War has shown that the Soviet people is capable of performing miracles and emerging victorious from the hardest trials. The workers, collective farmers, Soviet intellectuals, the whole Soviet people, are filled with determination to hasten the defeat of the enemy, to restore completely the economy ruined by the fascists, to make our country still stronger and more prosperous. Under the blows of the Red Army the bloc of Fascist States is cracking and falling to pieces. Fear and confusion now reign among Hitler's Rumanian, Hungarian, Finnish and Bulgarian "allies." These underlings of Hitler, whose countries have been occupied, or are being occupied, by the Germans, cannot now fail to see that Germany has lost the war. Rumania, Hungary, Finland and Bulgaria have only one possibility of escaping disaster: to break with the Germans and to withdraw from the war. However, it is difficult to expect that the present governments of these countries will prove capable of breaking with the Germans. It would seem that the peoples of these countries will have to take the cause of their liberation from the German yoke into their own hands. And the sooner the peoples of these countries realize to what an impasse the Hitlerites have brought them, the sooner will they withdraw all support from their German enslavers and underling Quislings in their own countries, the less will be the sacrifice and destruction caused to these countries by the war, and the more can they count on understanding from the democratic countries.
As a result of the successful offensive, the Red Army has emerged on our State frontiers on a stretch of over 400 kilometres (250 miles), and liberated more than three-quarters of occupied Soviet land from the German-fascist yoke. The aim now is to clear the whole of our land from the fascist invaders and to re-establish the State frontiers of the Soviet Union along the entire line from the Black Sea to the Barents Sea.
But our tasks cannot be confined to the expulsion of the enemy troops from our Motherland. The German troops now resemble a wounded beast which is compelled to crawl back to the frontiers of its lair—Germany—in order to heal its wounds. But a wounded beast which has retired to its lair does not cease to be a dangerous beast. To rid our country and the countries allied with us from the danger of enslavement, the wounded German beast must be pursued close on its heels and finished off in its own lair. And while pursuing the enemy we must deliver from German bondage our brother Poles, Czechoslovaks and other peoples of Western Europe allied with us which are under the heel of Hitlerite Germany.
Obviously this task is more difficult than the expulsion of German troops from the Soviet Union. It can be accomplished only as a result of the joint efforts of the Soviet Union, Great Britain and the United States of America, by joint blows from the east dealt by our troops and from the west dealt by the troops of our Allies. There can be no doubt that only this combined blow can completely crush Hitlerite Germany.
Comrades, Red Army men and Red Navy men, sergeants, officers and generals, men and women guerillas! Working people of the Soviet Union! Brothers and sisters who have temporarily fallen under the yoke of the German oppressors and have been forcibly driven to fascist slave labour in Germany! I greet and congratulate you upon the festival of the First of May!
I order:
In honour of the historic victories of the Red Army on the front and to mark the great achievements of the workers, collective farmers and intellectuals of the Soviet Union in the rear, to-day, on the day of the world festival of the working people, at 20.00 hours (Moscow time) a salute of 20 artillery salvoes shall be fired in Moscow, Leningrad, Gomel, Kiev, Kharkov, Rostov, Tbilisi, Simferopol, Odessa.
Long live our Soviet Motherland!
Long live our Red Army and Navy!
Long live the great Soviet people!
Long live the friendship of the peoples of the Soviet Union!
Long live the Soviet men and women guerillas!
Glory eternal to the heroes who fell in the battles for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. Stalin
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Moscow
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
May 10, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Vassilevsky and Army General Tolbukhin
Troops of the Fourth Ukrainian Front, supported by massed blows by aircraft and artillery, as a result of three days offensive fighting, broke through the heavily fortified zone of permanent German defences consisting of three lines of ferro-concrete defence works and, a few hours ago, captured by storm the fortress and most important naval base on the Black Sea - the town of Sevastopol.
Thus the last centre of resistance of the Germans in the Crimea has been eliminated and the Crimea is completely cleared of the German-fascist invaders.
In the fighting for Sevastopol, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Zakharov, Lieut.-Gen. Kreizer, Lieut.-Gen. Melnik, Lieut.-Gen. Chanchibadze, Lieut.-Gen. Kolomiets, Maj.-Gen. Lovyagin, Lieut.-Gen. Missan, Maj.-Gen. Neverov, Maj.-Gen. Koshevoi, Maj.-Gen. Provalov, Maj.-Gen. Luchinsky and Maj.-Gen.Rozhdestvensky; artillerymen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Artillery Krasnopevtsev, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Strelbitsky, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Telegin, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Sokolsky, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Tveretsky, Col. obsev and Col. Frolov; tankmen commanded by l. Potseluyev, Col. Barabash and Col. Zhidkov; airmen commanded by Marshal of Aviation Golovanov, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Khryukin, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Savitsky, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Filin, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Yermachenkov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Fedorov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Rubanov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Kuznets-ov, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Tupikov, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Loginov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Volkov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Shchetnikov, Col. Prutkov, Col. Getman, Col. Chuchchev, Col. Geivo, Col. Volkov, Lieut.-Col. Konarev, Col. Korzunov, Lieut.-Col. Manzhosov, Lieut.-Col. Rozhdestvensky and Lieut.-Col. Lyubimov; seamen under Adml. Oktyabrsky, Rear-Adml. Bol-tunov, Capt. of the First Rank Solovyev, Capt. Filippov, Capt. of the Second Rank Protsenko and Capt. of the Second Rank Dyachenko; sappers commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Kolesnikov, Col. Pavlov and Col. Koryavko, and signallers under Lieut.-Gen. of Signals Troops Korolev.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of Sevastopol will be recommended for conferment of the name Sevastopol and for award of orders.
Today, May 10, at 1 hour (Moscow time), the capital of the Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 24 artillery salvoes from 324 guns our gallant troops of the Fourth Ukrainian Front which captured the town of Sevastopol.
For excellent military operations I expres: my thanks to all troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Sevastopol.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
June 11, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Govorov
Yesterday, June 10, troops of the Leningrad Front launched an offensive on the Karelian Isthmus north of Leningrad and, with the help of massed blows of aviation and artillery, pierced the heavily fortified permanent defences of the Finns developed into depth, and within two days of offensive engagements, advanced about 24 kilometres, expanding the breach up to 40 kilometres along the front.
In the course of the offensive the troops of the front captured the town and large, railway station of Terijoki, the important enemy strongpoint and also over 80 other inhabited localities.
In the fighting for the breakthrough of the enemy defences, distinction was won by troops under Lieut.-Gen. Gusev, Lieut.-Gen. Simonyak, Lieut.-Gen. A.1 f erov, Ma j.-. Gen. BusarovMaj,-Gen. Shcheglov, Maj.-Gen. Putilov, Maj.-Gen. Yakushev, Maj.-Gen. Yastrebov, Maj.-Gen. Trushkin; artillerymen under Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Odintsov, Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Mikhalkin, Maj.-Gen. of Coastal Services Arsen— yev, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Zhdanov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Vassilyev, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Solovyev, Col. Ivanov, Col. Korichkin; tankmen under Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Baranov, Col. Shpiller, Lieut.-Col. Krasnoshtan, Maj. Prima-chenko, Maj. Oleinikov;' airmen under Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Rybalchenko, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Andreyev, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Shcher-bakob, Col. Skok^ Col. Khatminsky, Col. Greskov; and sappers under Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Bychevsky, Col. Shubin and Col. Ruy.
To mark the victory achieved, the units and formations which especially distinguished themselves in the fighting shall be recommended for conferment of the name Leningrad and for decoration with orders.
Today, June 11, at 11 p.m., the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, shall salute the valiant troops of the Leningrad Front which broke through the enemy defences, with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns.
For excellent combat actions I thank the troops under your command which participated in the breakthrough of the Finnish defence.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fighting for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German-Finnish invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
On the Allied Landing in Northern France
June 13, 1944
In answer to a Pravda correspondent, who asked how he evaluated the landing of Allied forces in northern France, Marshal Stalin gave the following reply:
IN summing up the seven days' fighting by the Allied liberation forces in the invasion of northern France, it may be said without hesitation that the large-scale forcing of the Channel and the mass landing of Allied forces in the north of France have been completely successful. This is undoubtedly a brilliant success for our Allies.
One cannot but acknowledge that the history of war knows no other similar undertaking as regards breadth of design, vastness of scale and high skill of execution.
As is known, the "invincible" Napoleon, in his time, disgracefully failed in his plan of forcing the Channel and capturing the British Isles. The hysterical Hitler, who for two years boasted that he would effect the forcing of the Channel, did not even venture to make an attempt to carry out his threat. Only the British and American troops succeeded in carrying out with credit the vast plan of forcing the Channel and effecting the mass landing of troops.
History will record this deed as an achievement of the highest order.
June 13, 1944
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
June 21, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal Govonov
Troops of the Leningrad Front, developing their breach of the Mannerheim Line, have overcome enemy resistance on the outer and inner lines of the Vyborg fortified area, and on June 20 captured by storm the town and fortress of Vyborg.
In the fighting to breach the Mannerheim Line and capture the town and fortress of Vyborg, distinction was won by troops under Col.-Gen. Gusev, Lieut.-Gen. Cherepanov, Lieut.- Gen. Anisimov, Lieut.-Gen. Alferov, Lieut.- Gen. Tikhonov, Maj.-Gen. Fadeyev, Maj.-Gen. Busarov, Maj.-Gen. Lyashchenko, Col. Yelshinov and Col. Radygin; artillerymen under Lieut.- Gen. of Artillery Odintsov, Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Mikhalkin, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Pyadussov and Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Zhdanov; tankmen under Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Baranov, Col. Shpiller, Col. Protsenko, Lieut.-Col.
Kovalevsky and Lieut.-Col. Sokolov; airmen under Air Lieut.-Gen. Rybalchenko, Air Lieut.-Gen. Samohkin, Air Maj.-Gen. Andreyev, Air Maj.-Gen. Shcherbakov, Col. Skok, Col. Khat-minsky and Col. Greskov, and sappers under Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Bychevsky.
To commemorate the victory achieved, the formations and units which especially distinguished themselves in the fighting shall be recommended for conferment of the name Vyborg and for decoration with orders.
Today, June 21, at 00.30 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns the valiant troops of the Leningrad Front which broke through the Mannerheim Line and captured the town and fortress of Vyborg.
For excellent combat operations I thank the troops under your command which participated in the breaching of the Mannerheim Line and in the fighting for the town and fortress of Vyborg.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fighting for the freedom and independence of our Motherland !
Death to the German-Finnish invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
June 24, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Meretskov
Troops of the Karelian Front, supported on the flank by ships of the Ladoga flotilla, went over to the offensive north and east of Lodeinoye Polye, forced the Svir River along the whole front from Lake Onega to Lake Ladoga, broke through the heavily fortified enemy defences, and in the course of three days of offensive fighting advanced' from 20-30 kilometres and captured more than 200 populated places, including Podporozhye, Svirstroi, Voznessenye, Mikhailovskaya, Megrozero, Pachnaya Selga, Berezhnaya and Mikentyeva.
In the fighting for the forcing of the Svir River and the breakthrough of the enemy defences, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Krutikov, Lieut.-Gen. Mironov, Maj.-Gen. Gnedin, Maj.-Gen. Leshchinin, Maj.-Gen. Absalyamov, Maj.-Gen. Sopenko, Rear Adml. Chirokov, Col. Moskalev, Col. Vindushev, Col. Blashevich, Col. Kalinovsky, Col. Zapirich, Capt. Engineer of the First Rank Dudimov and Lieut.-Col. Blak; artillerymen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Degtyarev, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Brezhnev, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Pavlov and Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Voevodin; tankmen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Shneider, Lieut.-Col. Terentyev, Maj. Torchilin, Maj. Emelyanov and Maj. Krotov; airmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Sokolov, Col. Minayev, Col. Kalugin, Col. Udonin and Col. Laryushkin; and sappers commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Khrenov and Lieut.-Col. Arshba.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting will be recommended for conferment of the name Svir and for award of orders.
Today-, June 24, at 20.30 hours (Moscow time), the capital of the Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the Karelian front which forced the Svir River and broke through the enemy defences.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all troops under your command which took part in the forcing of the Svir River and the breakthrough of the enemy defences.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German-Finnish invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
June 24, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Bagramyan
Troops of the 1st Baltic Front, going over to the offensive, supported by massed blows from artillery and aircraft, broke through the strong and deeply echeloned German defences in the Vitebsk fortified area north-west of Vitebsk on a sector of 35 kilometres in length, and advanced in tv/o days of offensive fighting to a depth of 20 - 40 kilometres, widening the breakthrough to 80 kilometres along the front, and reaching the Western Dvina River on a 35 kilometre stretch.
In the fighting for the breakthrough of the German defences, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Chistyakov, Lieut.-Gen. Beloborodov, Lieut.-Gen. Vassilyev, Maj.-Gen. Ruchkin, Lieut.-Gen. Yermakov, Maj.-Gen.. Fedyunkin, Maj.-Gen. Lyukhtikov, Maj.-Gen. Khvostov, Maj.-Gen. Vlassov, Maj.-Gen. Chernikov, Maj.-Gen. Baksov, Maj.-Gen. Sivakov, Maj.-Gen. Rucheryavenko, Col. Shkurin, Col. Gnedin, Col. Lutskevich and Col. Chernous; artillerymen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Khlebnikov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Bazhnan,: Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Makarov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Shcheglov, Maj.-Gen.of Artillery Samborsky, Col. Stepanenko, Col. Mironov, Col. Melnikov and Lieut.-Col. Mikhailov; tankmen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Shornyakov,. Col. Podkovsky, Col. Sadovsky, Col. Kalinin and Col. Volkov; airmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Papivin, Col. Tikhomir-ov, Col. Alexandrov, Col. Kurbatov and Maj. Martanyov; and sappers commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Kossarev, Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Kolmakov, Col. Kuchuruk and Col. Stechishin.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting will be recommended for conferment of the name Vitebsk and for the award of orders.
Today, June 24, at 22.30 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the 1st Baltic Front which broke through the German defences.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all troops under your command which took part in the fighting- for the breakthrough of the enemy defences.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
June 24, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Colonel General Chernyakhovsky
Troops of the Third Byelorussian Front, supported by massed blows from artillery and aircraft, broke through the heavily fortified and deeply echeloned German defences in the Vitebsk fortified area, south of Vitebsk, on a sector of 30 kilometres, and advanced in two days offensive fighting to a depth of 25 kilometres, widening the breakthrough to a front of 80 kilometres, and liberating more than 300 populated places.
Simultaneously, in the Orsha direction, troops of the front broke through the strong, deeply, echeloned enemy defences north of the river Dnieper on a front of 20 kilometres, and advanced up to 15 kilometres.
In the fighting for the breakthrough of the German defences, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Lyudnikov, Lieut.-Gen. Galitsky, Lieut.-Gen. Glagolev, Maj.-Gen. Perekrestov, Maj.-Gen. Bezugly, Maj.-Gen. Kazartsev, Maj.-Gen. Poplavsky, Maj.-Gen. Vorobyev, Col.Klets, Lieut.- Gen. Koshevoi, Maj.-Gen. Provalov, Maj.-Gen. Kvashnin, Maj.-Gen. Alexeyenko, Maj.-Gen. Kalinin, Maj.-Gen. Gladyshev, Maj.-Gen. Laskin, Col. Bibikov and Col. Koshanov; artillerymen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Barsukov, Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Nilovsky, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Deresh, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Fedorov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Rozhanovitch, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Kozhukov, Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Semenov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Semin, Col. Kovalenko and Col. Lukyanov; tankmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Rodin, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Malakhov, Col. Semenyuk, Col. Kovalev and Col. Dukhovny; airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Khryukin, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Ushakov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Gorlachenko, Col. Prutkov and Col. Zimin; sappers commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Baranov, Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Gnedovsky, Col. Lukhashenko, Col. Soldatenkov and Col. Novikov, and signallers commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Signal Troops Lurov and Col. Prikhoday.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting are recommended for conferment of the name Vitebsk and for the award of orders.
Today, June 24, at 24.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of the Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the Third Byelorussian Front which broke through the German defences.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the breakthrough of the enemy defences.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
June 25, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Colonel General Zakharov
Troops of the Second Byelorussian Front, having forced the River Pronya west of the town of Mstislavl, supported by powerful blows from artillery and aircraft, have broken through the heavily fortified German defences covering the Mogilev direction on a sector 45 kilometres long and, in three days offensive engagements, have advanced about 30 kilometres, . widening the breakthrough to 75 kilometres along the front.
In the course of the offensive, troops of the front captured the town of Chausy, a district centre of the Mogilev Region, and liberated more than 200 other places, including Chernevka, Zhdanovichi, Khonkovichi, Budino,,-Vaskovichi, Temrivichi and Bordninichi.
In the fighting for the forcing of the River Pronya and the breakthrough of the German defences, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Grishin, Lieut.-Gen. Boldin, Maj.-Gen. Multan, Maj.-Gen. Terentyev, Maj.-Gen. Smirnov, Maj.-Gen. Gasparyan, Maj.- Gen. Kononenko, Maj.-Gen. Skrylev, Maj.-Gen. Kirillov, Maj.-Gen. Lazarenko, Maj.-Gen. Krasnoshtanov, Col. Yurin, Col. Slitz, Col.Artemyev, Col. Steiger, Col. Gusev and Maj. Nesterov.
Artillerymen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Sokolski, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Degtyarev, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Razintsev, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Pareshin, Col. Yershov, Col. Sokolenko, Col. Korolev, Col. Mikhno, Col. Zyablikov, Lieut.-Col. Akhtyrchenko and Lieut.-Col. Karasev.
Tankmen commanded by Col. Kotov, Col. Lukashev, Col. Tulovsky, Lieut.-Col. Mazikin and Maj. Korolev.
Airmen commanded by Air Col.-Gen.Vershinin, Air Lieut.-Gen. Loginov, Air Lieut.-Gen. Geo-rgiev, Col. Getman, Col. Smolovik, Col. Vuss, Col. Blinov, Col. Kozachenko and Lieut.-Col. Pokayeva.
Sappers commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Blagoslavov, Col. Savelov, Col. Vizirov, Col. Dergunov, Col. Sokolov, Maj. Smyshlyayev, Maj. Petrov, Maj. Kanarchic and Maj. Shchetinnikov.
Signallers commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Signal Ifoops Navarchuk.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting will be recommended for the conferment of orders.
Today, June 25, at 22.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the Second Byelorussian Front which forced the River Pronya and broke through the German defences in the Mogilev direction.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the forcing of the River Pronya and the breakthrough of the enemy defences.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
June 25, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Rokossovsky
Troops of the First Byelorussian Front, going over to the offensive from the area south-west of the town of Zhlobin, supported by massed blows from artillery and aircraft, broke through the heavily fortified German defences covering the Bobruisk direction on a sector of 35 kilometres and in two days offensive engagements advanced about 30 kilometres, widening the breakthrough to about 80 kilometres.
Simultaneously, north of the town of Rogachev, troops of the Front forced the River Drut, broke through the strong, deeply staggered enemy defences along a front of 30 kilometres, and advanced to a depth of about 12 kilometres.
In the course of the offensive, troops of the Front captured more than 100 populated places, including Retka, Ozerane, Verichev, Zapolye, Zabolotye, Knyshevichi, Moiseyevka and Mushichi, and cut the Bobruisk-Luninets railway line in the area of the railway stations of Moshna and Cherniye Brody.
In the fighting for the breakthrough of the German defences, distinction was won by the troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Batov, Lieut.-Gen. Luchinsky, Lieut.-Gen. Gorbatov, Lieut.-Gen. Romanenko, Maj.-Gen. Ivanov, Maj.-Gen. Alexeyev, Maj.-Gen. Perkhorovich, Maj.-Gen. Shvarev, Maj.-Gen. Batitsky, Maj.-Gen. Ragulya, Maj.-Gen. Zholudev, Lieut.-Gen. Kol-ganov, Maj.-Gen. Andreyev, Maj.-Gen. Sankovsky, Col. Mozorov, Maj.-Gen. Grebennik, Maj.-Gen. Frolenkqv, Maj.-Gen. Borisov, Maj.-Gen. Danilov, Maj.-Gen. Kuznetsov, Maj.-Gen. Turchinsky, Col. Sychev, Col. Kusin, Col. Mikhalitsyn, Maj.-Gen. Revunenkov, Maj.-Gen. Mokhin, Maj.-Gen. Kazakevich, Col. Tsyplenkov and Col. Pogrebnyak.
Artillerymen commanded by Col.-Gen. of artillery Kazakov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Veskin Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Timotievich, Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Semenov, Maj.-Gen. of Artil-gj^ycry Petropavlovsky, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Ignatov, Col. Akimushkin, Col. Zhigarev, Col. Ivanov, Lieut.-Col, Bespalko, Col. Veremeyev,
Col. Ostreiko, Lieut.-Col. Goncharuk, Col. Oleinik, Col. Voskresensky, Col. Onufriyev, Col. Zrazhevsky, Col.- Travkin, Col. Podolsky and Col, Ushakov.
Tankmen commanded by Lieut,-Gen. of Tank Troops Orel, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Panov, Lieut.-Col. Verlan, Lieut.-Col. Gavrilov, -Lieut. Col. Sokolov, Lieut.-Col. Tideman, Lieut,-Col. Ryzhanov, Lieut.-Col. Makharkin, Col, Novak and Maj. Krapiva.
Airmen commanded by Air Col.-Gen. Radenko, Air Lieut.-Gen. Osipenko, Air Lieut,-Gen. Nes-tertsov, Air Lieut.-Gen. Tupikov, Air Maj.-Gen. Komarov, Air Maj.-Gen» Krupsky, Air Maj.-Gen. Baidukov, Air Maj.-Gen. Dzuzov, Air Maj.-Gen. Karavatsky, Air Maj.-Gen. Volkov, Air Maj.-Gen. Menshikov, Air Maj.-Gen. Shchetchikoc, Air Maj.-Gen. Yukhanov, Col. Chirva, Col. Kalinin, Lieut.-Col. Sherstyuk, Col. Ivanov, Col. Sukhoryabov, Col. Borisenko and Lieut.-Col. Rasskazov.
Sappers commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Proshlyakov, Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Shvydov, Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Zhirov, Col. Gaber, Col. Yakovlev, Col. Petrov, Col. Artsishevsky, Maj. Korolev, Capt. Lukhachev, Maj. Kozlov, Lieut.-Col. Sborovsky and Capt. Snadin.
Signallers commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Signal Troops Maxirnenko, Maj.-Gen. of Signal Troops Mishin, Maj.-Gen. of Signal Troops Mamotka and Col. Borisov.
To commemorate the victory, the unit and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting will be recommended for conferment of orders.
Today, June 25, at 23.30 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the First Byelorussian Front, which broke throught the German defences in the Bobruisk direction.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the breakthrough of the enemy defences and the forcing of the River Drut.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
June 26, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army Generals Bagramyan and Chernyakhovsky
Troops of the First Baltic Front and the Third Byelorussian Front, as a result of deep turning manoeuvres from the flanks, encircled the German Vitebsk grouping consisting of five infantry divisions. Tightening the ring of encirclement, our troops today, June 26, captured by storm the town of Vitebsk, large regional centre of Byelorussia, an important strategical centre of the German defences in the western direction.
In the fighting for the capture of Vitebsk, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Beloborodov, Lieut.-Gen. Lyud-nikov, Lieut.-Gen. I ,o pa tin, Lieut.-Gen. Lyuich-tikov, Maj.-Gen. Ibyansky, Maj.-Gen. Prokofyev, Maj.-Gen. Bezugly, Maj.-Gen. Dibrov, Maj.-Gen. Ussachev, Maj.-Gen. Kvashnin, Maj.-Gen. Volkhin, Col. Lutskevich; Col. Baidak, Col. Savchenkp, Col. Goncharov, Col. Sinitsin and Col. Zhgutov; artillerymen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Barsukov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Shchegov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Deresh, Col. Lukyanov, Col. Kulikov, Lieut.-Col. Ilyichev, Lieut.-Col. Prussakov, Lieut.-Col. Lavrinovich and Lieut.-Col. Kiyan; tankmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen.- of Tank Troops Rodin, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Malakhov, Col. Kovalev, Maj. Zaitsev and Maj. Kupin; airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Khryukin, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Ivanov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Molokov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Gorlachenko, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Blagoveshchensky, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Zakharov, Lieut.-Col. Bolotov, Lieut.-Col. Shkulepov, Lieut.-Col. Nestoyanov and Maj. Vyssokossov; sappers under Lieut.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Baranov, Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Gnedovsky, Col. Gorodkov and Lieut.-Col. Ghizh, and signalmen under Maj.-Gen. of Signal Troops Babkin, Maj.-Gen. of Signal Troops Sorokin, Col. Rodionov and Lieut.-Col. Ageyev.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of Vitebsk will be recommended for conferment of the name Vitebsk, and for award of orders.
Today, June 26, at 22.00. hours. (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the First Baltic Front and the Third Byelorussian Front, which captured the town of Vitebsk.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Vitebsk.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
June 26, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Rokossovsky
Troops of the First Byelorussian Front, continuing their successful offensive, today, June 26, captured the town and large railway junction of Zhlobin, important strongpoint in the German defences in the Bobruisk direction.
In the fighting for the capture of Zhlobin, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Rornanenko, Maj.-Gen. Pichugin, Col. Petrovsky and Col. Massonov; artillerymen commanded by Col. Travkin and Lieut.-Col. Bu-blikov; airmen commanded by Lieut.-Col. Grish-chenko. and pontoon builders commanded by Lieut.-Col. Massik.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for Zhlobin, will be recommended for conferment of the name Zhlobin and for award of orders.
Today, June 26, at 23.00 hours (Moscow time) the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops of the First Byelorussian Front, which captured the town of Zhlobin.
For excellent military operations I express: my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Zhlobin.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
June 27, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Chernyakhovsky, announces that troops of the Third Byelorussian Front, developing their offensive, on June 27, as a result of a swift outflanking manoeuvre combined with a frontal attack, captured the town and operationally important railway junction of Orsha, powerful bastion of German defence covering the Minsk direction.
The Order mentions 50 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired by 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
June 28, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Col.-Gen. Zakharov, announces that troops of the Second Byelorussian Front, having forced the Dnieper along a stretch of 120 kilometres, broke through the second German defensive zone which had been prepared along the western bank of the river and, on June 2,8, carried by storm the town of Mogilev - large regional centre of Byelorussia, and operationally important centre of the Germans' defence in the Minsk direction, and also captured in fighting the towns of Shklov and Bykho.v.
The Order mentions 99 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired by 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
June 28, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Rokossovsky, announces that troops of the First Byelorussian Front, developing a vigorous offensive on June 28, as a result of a deep outflanking manoeuvre, captured the town and important railway junction of Ossipovichi, so completing the encirclement of the Bobruisk group of German troops.
The Order mentions 7 commanders of troops, tankmen and airmen whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired by 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
Addressed to Army-General Meretskov
June 29, 1944
TROOPS of the Karelian Front, as a result of a deep encircling manœuvre and a landing on the western shore of Lake Onega, have liberated the town of Petrozavodsk (capital of the Karelo-Finnish Republic) from the German and Finnish invaders, and captured the town and railway station of Kondopoga, thus clearing the enemy from the whole length of the Kirov (Murmansk) railway.
In the fighting for the liberation of Petrozavodsk distinction was won by sailors commanded by Capt. of the First Rank Antonov, Capt. of the Second Rank Krotin, Lt.-Capt. Yelnikov, Capt. of the Third Rank Nikulin and Capt. Molchanov; troops commanded by Lt.-Gen. Yeremenko, Maj.-Gen. Sapenko, Col. Tsyganov, Col. Alexeyev and Lt. Col. Pilshchikov; artillerymen commanded by Col. Glotov; sappers commanded by Col. Ivanchikhin; and signallers commanded by Capt. of the Second Rank Rozhdestvensky.
To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of Petrozavodsk will be recommended for conferment of the name "Petrozavodsk" and the award of Orders.
To-day, June 29, at 22.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of the Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 24 artillery salvoes from 324 guns our gallant troops of the Karelian Front which liberated the capital of the Karelo-Finnish S.S.R., Petrozavodsk.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Petrozavodsk.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German and Finnish invaders!
J. Stalin
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Moscow
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 1, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Chernyakhovsky, announces that troops of the Third Byelorussian Front, developing their successful offensive, forced the River Berezina on a front of 110 kilometres and, on July 1, captured by storm the town and large junction of communications Borisov, the important strong-point of German defences covering the approaches to Minsk.
The Order mentions 62 commanders of troops, cavalrymen, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired by Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 2, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Chernyakhovsky, announces that troops of the Third Byelorussian Front, as a result, of a vigorous offensive by tank formations and infantry north-west of Minsk, have captured Vileika, a regional centre of Byelorussia, and the important railway station and town of Krasnoye. Thus our troops have cut the Germans' communication lines from Minsk to Vilno and Li da. Simultaneously, south-west of Minsk, troops of the First Byelorussian Front, after a vigorous blow launched by cavalry, tank formations and infantry, captured the towns and important communication centres of Stolbtsy, Gorodeya and Nesvizh, so cutting the German communication lines from Minsk to Brest and Jjtlninets.
The Order mentions 24 commanders of tankmen, cavalrymen, troops, artillerymen and airmen whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired by 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
Addressed to Army-General Chernyakhovsky and Marshal Rokossovsky
July 3, 1944
TROOPS of the 3rd Byelorussian Front, with the support of troops of the 1st Byelorussian Front, as the result of a deep outflanking manœuvre, to-day, July 3, carried by assault the capital of Soviet Byelorussia, the town of Minsk—most important strategic centre of the German defences in the western direction.
In the fighting for the capture of Minsk distinction was won by tankmen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Burdeiny, Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Obukhov, Marshal of Tank Troops Rotmistrov, Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Rodin, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Netsvetailo, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Vovchenko, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Fominyk, Col. Lossik, Col. Bulygin, Col. Nesterov, Lieut.-Col. Antipin, Col. Gritsenko, Lieut.-Col. Yessipenko, Col. Pokhodzeyev, Col. Dolganov, Lieut.-Col. Mishchenko, Lieut.-Col. Molchanov, Lieut.-Col. Kumossov, Col. Morozov, Col. Tsinchenko, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Bakharov and Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Panov; Cavalry formations of Kuban Cossacks commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Pliyev, Maj.-Gen. Tutarinov, Maj.-Gen. Golovsk and Col. Poprikailo; Troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Glagolev, Col.Gen. Galitsky, Col.-Gen. Batov, Lieut.-Gen. Luchinsky, Lieut.-Gen. Koshevoi, Maj.-Gen. Provalov, Maj.-Gen. Berestov, Maj.-Gen. Strizhenko, Col. Polevik, Col. Dudka, Col. Kovtunov and Col. Klimakhin; Artillerymen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Barsukov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Semin, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Vladimirov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Sazonov, Col. Lubman, Col. Fedotov, Col. Khasin, Major Stepanov, Major Zotov, Lieut.-Col. Pytalev, Major Mikhailov, Lieut.-Col. Mayorov, Major Sereda and Col. Belyakov; Airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Khryukin, Col.-Gen. of Aviation Rudenko, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Ushakov, Lieut.-Col. of Aviation Beletsky, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Savitsky, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Loginov, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Georgiev, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Tupikov, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Nestertsev, Maj.-Gen of Aviation Volkov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Schetchikov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Buyansky, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Zakharov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Andreyev, Col. Prutkov, Col. Zimin, Col. Vassilyev, Col. Skok, Lieut.-Col. Rodin, Col. Yurin, and Major Maximov; Sappers commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Baranov, Col. Pronevich, Col. Isupov and Col. Fedorov; Signallers commanded by Col. Belyshev, Col. Minin and Lieut.-Col. Geller.
To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the capture of Minsk will be recommended for conferment of the name "Minsk" and award of Orders.
To-day, July 3, at 22.00 hours (Moscow time) the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 24 artillery salvoes from 324 guns our gallant troops which captured or assisted in the capture of Minsk.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the capture of Minsk.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. Stalin
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Moscow
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 4, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Bagramyan, announces that troops of the First Baltic Front, developing their offensive on July 4, captured by storm the town and important railway junction of Polotsk - powerful fortified area of German defence covering the Dvinsk' direction.
The Order mentions 49 commanders of troops artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired by 22! Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 5, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Chernyakhovsky, announces that troops of the Third Byelorussian Front, on July 5, as a result of a vigorous attack by tank formations, cavalry and infantry, captured the town and large railway junction of Molodechno, an important strong-point of the German defences covering the road to Vilno and Lida.
The Order mentions 17 commanders of troops, tankmen, cavalrymen, artillerymen and sappers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 12 salvoes was fired by 124 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 6, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Rokossovsky, announces that troops of the First Byelorussian Front on July 6, captured the town of Kovel, an important strongpoint of the German defences and large railway junction. The Order mentions 18 commanders of troops, artillerymen, airmen and sappers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 12 salvoes was fired by 124 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 8, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Rokossovsky, announces that, on July 8, troops of the First Byelorussian Front, as a result of an outflanking manoeuvre by cavalry and tank formations, combined with a frontal infantry attack, captured the town of Baranovichi, regional centre of Byelorussia and important railway junction, and the powerful fortified area of the German defences covering the Byelostok and Brest directions.
The Order mentions 51 commanders of troops, Kuban cavalrymen, tankmen, artillerymen, airmen and sappers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired by 224 Moscow, guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 9, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Chernyakhovsky, announces that troops of the Third Byelorussian Front, as a result of a skilful manoeuvre by cavalry, tanks and infantry have captured the town of Lida, large railway junction and important strongpoint of the German defences in the Grodno direction.
The Order mentions 21 commanders of cavalrymen, tankmen, troops, artillerymen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 12 salvoes was fired by 124 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 12, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
0rder of the Day, addressed to Army-General Yeremenko, announces that troops of the Second Baltic Front, having gone over to the offensive from the area north-west and west of Novo-Sokolniki, have broken through the German defences, and in two days offensive fighting have advanced up to 35 kilometres, widening the breach to 150 kilometres along the front.
In the course of the offensive, the troops of this Front have captured the town and large railway junction of Idritsa, an important strong point of the German defences, and have also captured more than 1,000 other populated places, including Kudever, Dukhnovo, Yukhovichi, Rossono and Klyastitsy.
The Order mentions 39 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired by 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
Addressed to Army-General Chernyakhovsky
July 13, 1944
TROOPS of the Third Byelorussian Front to-day, July 13, as a result of five days' fighting, liquidated the German garrison encircled in the town of Vilnius and liberated the capital of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic from the Fascist invaders.
In the fighting for the liberation of Vilnius distinction was won by troops under Lieut.-Gen. Krylov, Maj.-Gen. Kazartsev, Maj.-Gen. Perekrestov, Maj.-Gen. Poplavsky, Maj.-Gen. Gladyshev, Maj.-Gen. Laskin, Maj.-Gen. Kazaryan, Col. Donets, Maj.-Gen. Kalinin, Maj.Gen. Alexeyenko, Col. Zhekov-Bogatyrev, Col. Babayan and Maj.-Gen. Gorodovikov; Artillerymen under Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Barsukov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Fedorov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Vladimirov, Col. Baryshev, Col. Rakhmanov, Col. Chernet, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Yudichev, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Rozhanovitch, Col. Gatsko, Col. Sedov, Lieut.-Col. Tikhomirov, Maj. Gazhva, Lieut.-Col. Litvinov, Lieut.-Col. Kozlov, Maj. Ryzhikov, Maj. Usov, Lieut.-Col. Nikitin, Lieut.-Col. Naumenko, Maj. Kolupayev, Maj. Sharkov and Col. Mezhinsky.; Tankmen under Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Obukhov, Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Rodin, Col. Rodionov, Col. Kremer, Col. Sokolov, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Aslanov, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Solovoy, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Vovchenko, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Fominykh, Col. Kritsenko, Lieut.-Col. Yesipenko, Col. Dolganov, Lieut.-Col. Molchanov, Lieut.-Col. Kurnosov, Lieut.-Col. Mishchenko, Lieut.-Col. Dyachuk, Col. Krutiy, Lieut.-Col. Solter, Maj. Borshchenko and Lieut.-Col. Nemkovich; Airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Khryukin, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Beletsky, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Savitsky, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Andreyev, Col. Savin, Lieut.-Col. Gorbatyuk, Lieut.-Col. Orlov, Lieut.-Col. Doroshenko, Lieut.-Col. Zaitsev, Col. Chuchev, Maj. Katkov, Col. Vasiliev, Col. Chumachenko and Col. Rodin; Sappers conunanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Baranov, Col. Molchanov, Maj. Rabinovich, Col. Yusupov and Col. Lukashenko; Signallers commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Signal Troops Burov, Col. Prikhoday, Lieut.-Col. Belov, Col. Minin, Col. Tkachenko, Maj. Tarasenko, Maj. Semenov and Maj. Sukhinin.
To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Vilnius will be recommended for conferment of the name "Vilnius" and for award of Orders.
To-day, July 13, at 23.30 hours (Moscow time) the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 24 salvoes from 324 guns our gallant troops of the Third Byelorussian Front which captured the capital of Soviet Lithuania, Vilnius.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Vilnius.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. Stalin
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Moscow
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 14, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
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Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Rokossovsky. announces that troops of the First Byelorussian Front, with the support of the Dnieper River Naval Flotilla, after forcing the Rivers Yaselda and Pripyat, on July 14 captured by storm the town of Pinsk, regional centre of Soviet Byelorussia and important strongpoint in the German defences in the Brest direction.
The Order mentions 29 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sailors of the Dnieper River Naval Flotilla, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired by 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 14, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Col.-Gen. Zakharov, announces that troops of the Second Byelorussian Front, developing their offensive, on July 14, captured the town and large railway Junction of Volkovysk, important strongpoint in the German defences covering the road to Byelostok.
The Order mentions 27 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 12 salvoes was fired by 124 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 16, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
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Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Chernyakhovsky and Col.-Gen. Zakharov, announces that troops of the Third and Second Byelorussian Fronts, by the skilful collaboration of their formations, on July 16, captured by storm the town and fortress of Grodno, a large railway junction and important fortified area of the German defences covering the approaches to the frontiers of East Prussia.
The Order mentions 44 commanders of cavalry men, troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired by 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 18, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
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Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Koniev, announces that troops of the First Ukrainian Front, going over to the offensive and supported by massed artillery and aircraft blows, have broken through the strong and deeply echeloned German defences in the Lvov direction, and in three days offensive fighting have advanced to a depth of up to 50 kilometres, widening their breakthrough along the front to 200 kilometres.
During the offensive, the troops of the front have captured the towns Poritsk, Gorokhov, Radzekhov, Brody, Zolochev, Busk and Kamenka, the town and large railway junction of Krasnoye, and more than 600 other populated places.
The Order mentions 52 commanders of troops, cavalrymen, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired by 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 19, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
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Order of the Day, addressed to Col.-Gen. Maslennikov, announces that troops of the Third Baltic Front, having forced the River Velikaya, have broken through the heavily fortified and deep German defensive zone south of the town of Ostrov and, in two days offensive fighting, advanced up to 40 kilometres, widening the breakthrough to 70 kilometres along the front.
During the offensive, troops of the Front captured over 700 populated places, including the large townships of Shanino, Zelenovo and Krasnogorodskoye.
The Order mentions; 26 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired by 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 20, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
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Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Koniev, announces that troops of the First Ukrainian Front, developing their successful offensive, on July 20, captured by storm the towns . and large railway junctions of Vladimir Volynsky and Rava Russkaya, important strong-points of the German defences in the Western Ukraine.
The Order mentions 26 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired by 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 20, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Rokossovsky, announces that troops of the First Byelorussian Front, passing to the offensive from the area of Kovel, have broken through the strongly fortified German defences, and in three days fighting advanced up to 50 kilometres, widening their breach to 150 kilometres along the front. In the offensive, troops of the front captured more than 400 populated places, including the large townships of Ratno, Maloryta, Lyuboml and Opalin, and reached the Western Bug River.
The Order mentions 64 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired by 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 21, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
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Order of the Day, addressed to Col.-Gen. Maslennikov, announces that troops of the Third Baltic Front, as a result of a skilful out-flanking manoeuvre combined with a frontal attack on July 21, captured by storm the town of 0strov - large communications centre and powerful strongpoint of the German defences covering the roads to the central districts of the Baltic area.
The Order mentions 30 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 12 salvoes was fired from 124 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 22, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
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Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Rokossovsky, announces that troops of the First Byelorussian Front on July 22, captured by storm the town and large railway junction of Kholra, an important strongpoint in the German defences in the Lublin direction.
The Order mentions 25 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 12 salvoes was fired by 124 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 22, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
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Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Bagramyan, announces that troops of the First Baltic Front, as a result of a vigorous attacks by infantry and tank formations on July 22 captured the town and large communication centre Panevezhis (Ponovezh), an important strongpoint in the German defences covering the main road from the Baltic area to East Prussia.
The Order mentions 24 commanders of troop artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 12 salvoes was fired from 124 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 23, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
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Order of the Day, addressed to Col.-Gen. Maslennikov, announces that troops of the Third Baltic Front on July 23, carried by assault the town and large railway junction of Pskov - powerful strongpoint in the German defences covering the roads to the southern districts of Esthonia.
The Order mentions 33 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and -signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from -224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 24, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Rokossovsky, announces that troops of the First Byelorussian Front, as a result of a vigorous pensive by tank formations, cavalry and infantry captured the town and important railway junction of Lublin - important strongpoint in the German defences covering the roads to Warsaw.
The Order mentions 54 commanders of tank troops, cavalrymen, troops, artillerymen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 26, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
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Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Govarov, announces that troops of the Leningrad Front, having gone over to the offensive in the Narva area, broke through the strongly fortified, deeply echeloned enemy defence zone and, as a result of skilful outflanking manoeuvre and frontal attack on July 26, carried by storm the town and fortress of Narva - an important fortified zone of the German defences covering the road to Esthonia.
The Order mentions 36 commanders of troops artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired fro 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 26, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Rokossovsky, announces that troops of the First Byelorussian Front, as a result of a vigorous attack by tank formations and infantry, have carried by storm the town and fortress of Dem-blin (Ivangorod) - a large railway junction and powerful strongpoint of German defences on the River Vistula.
The Order mentions 42 commanders of troops, tankmen, artillerymen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 27, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
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0rder of the Day, addressed to Col.-Gen. Zakharov, announces that on July 27, troops of the Second Byelorussian Front after two days fighting, captured by storm the town and large industrial centre of Byelostok, an important railway junction and powerful fortified area of the German defences covering the road to Warsaw.
The Order mentions 68 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 27, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Koniev, announces that on July 27, as a result of an outflanking manoeuvre in combination with a frontal attack, troops of the First Ukrainian Front captured the regional centre of the Ukraine, the town of Stanislav, a large railway junction and important German stronghold in the foothills of the Carpathians.
The Order mentions 42 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 27, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Yeremenko, announces that on July 27, troops of the Second Baltic Front, developing their offensive, captured by storm the towns of Dvinsk and Rezekne, important railway junction and powerful German strongpoints in the Right direction.
The Order mentions 70 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 27, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Koniev, announces that on July 27, after two days fighting, as a result of a skilful outflanking manoeuvre by tank formations and infantry, troops of the First Ukrainian Front captured by storm the important economic and political centre and regional town of the Ukraine, Lvov, a big railway junction and strategically important strongpoint of the German defences covering the roads to the southern areas of Poland.
The order mentions 82 commanders of tankmen, troops, artillerymen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 27, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Bagramyan, announces that on July 27, troops of the First Baltic Front, as a result of a resolute blow by tank formations and infantry, captured the town of Shavli, a large communication centre linking the Baltic with East Prussia.
The Order mentions 32 commanders of tankmen, troops, artillerymen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 28, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
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Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Koniev, announces that troops of the First Ukrainian Front, having forced the River San, broke through the enemy defences and, as a result of an outflanking manoeuvre by tank formations, cavalry and infantry, captured the town and fortress of Peremyshl and the town of Yaroslav, important nodal points of communications and powerful strongpoints of the German defences covering the roads to Cracow.
The Order mentions 52 commanders of tankmen, cavalrymen, troops, artillerymen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 28, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Rokossovsky, announces that troops of the First Byelorussian Front, as a result of a skilful outflanking manoeuvre and frontal attack on July 28, captured the town and fortress of Brest (BrestrLitovsk), regional centre of Byelorussia, and an operationally Important railway junction and powerful fortified area of the German defences in the Warsaw direction.
The Order mentions 67 commanders of troops, Kuban cavalry, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 31, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Rokossovsky, announces that troops of the First Byelorussian Front, after stiff engagements, carried by storm the towns and important nodal points of communication Sedlets, Minsk-Mazovetsky and Lukov - powerful German strong points at the approaches to Warsaw.
The Order mentions 43 commanders of tankmen, cavalrymen, troops, artillerymen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 31, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Bagramyan, announces that on July 31, troops of the First Baltic Front, as a result of a swift manoeuvre of tank formations and infantry, captured in fighting the town of Jelgava (Mitava), main junction of 'communication lines connecting the Baltic area with East Prussia.
The Order mentions 57 commanders of tankmen, troops, artillerymen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
July 31, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Chernyakhovsky, announces that troops of the Third Byelorussian Front, passing to the offensive, forced the River Nyemen, broke through strongly fortified enemy defences on the western bank of the Nyemen and in three days offensive engagements advanced up to a depth of 50 kilometres and widened the breach to about 230 kilometres along the front. In the course of the offensive, troops of the front captured the town and large railway station of Mariampol, the important nodal points of communications Pilvishki, Shostakov and Seiny, and captured over 1,500 other populated places.
The Order mentions 66 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224. Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 1, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Chernyakhovsky, announces that troops of the Third Byelorussian Front have crushed the enemy resistance, and carried by storm the town and fortress of Kaunas (Kovno) - operationally important nodal point of communications and powerful strongpoint of the German defence covering the approaches to the frontiers of East Prussia.
The order mentions 69 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 124 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 5, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
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Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Koniev, announces that, continuing their offensive, troops of the First Ukrainian Front forced the River Stryi and on August 5, carried by storm the town of Stryi, a large railway junction and important strongpoint of enemy defences in the foothills of the Carpathians.
The Order mentions 16 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished,themselves.
A salute of 12 salvoes was fired from 124 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 6, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Col.-Gen. Petrov, announces that troops of the Fourth Ukrainian Front, developing their successful offensive on August 6, captured by storm Drohobych, the large industrial centre and regional town of the Ukraine, an important communications junction and strongpoint in the enemy defences covering the approaches to the Carpathian passes.
The Order mentions 25 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
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J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 7, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Koniev, announces that troops of the First Ukrainian Front, as a result of stubborn fighting on August 7, captured the town and large railway junction of Sambor - an important strong point of the German defences in the Carpathian foothills.
The Order mentions 16 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 12 salvoes was fired from 124 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 7, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Col.-Gen. Petrov, announces that troops of the Fourth Ukrainian Front, continuing their offensive, on August 7, captured in fighting the town of Borislav, large oil industry centre of the Western Ukraine.
The Order mentions 17 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 12 salvoes was fired from 124 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 14, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Troops of the Second Byelorussian Front, continuing their offensive, on August 14 carried by storm the town and fortress of Ossovets, powerful fortified district in the German defences, on the River Bobr covering the approaches to the borders of East Prussia.
In the fighting for the capture of the town and fortress of Ossovets, distinction was won by troops commanded by Col.-Ben. Boldin, Lt.-Gen. Greshin, Maj.-Gen. Zakharov, Col. Kazak, Col. Fedoztov, Ma j.-Gen. Gasparyan, Maj.-Gen. Krasnoshtanov, Col. Suprunov, Maj. Gen. Kirillov, Maj.-Gen. Terentyev, Maj.-Gen. hkrylev and Col. Artemeyev; artillerymen commanded by Lt.-Gen. of Artillery Sokolosky, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Degtyarev, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Karepin, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Vassilyev, Col. Yelkin, Col. Zyablikov, Col Korolev, Col. Korotkikh and Col. Turchaninov tankmen commanded by Ma j. -Gen. of Tank Troops Shirobokov, Col. Shmyrov, Col. Rodionov and Col. Kozikov; airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Vershinin, Lt.-Gen. of Aviation Ossipenko, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Baidukov, Col. Yakushin, Col. Volkov, Col. Grishchenko, Col. Pokayeva and Maj. Rubtsev; sappers commanded by. Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Blagslavov, Col. Melnikov, Col. Tretyakov, Col. Vizirov, Col. Loginov, Col. Mirotvorsky and Maj. Petrov; and signallers commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Signal Troops Borzov, Col. Teikovtsev and Maj.-Gen. of Signal Troops Novarchuk.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particulary distinguished themselves in the fighting for the capture of the town and fortress of Ossovets will be recommended for conferment of the name Ossovets and award of orders.
Today, August 14, at 22.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops of the Second Byelorussian Front which captured the town and fortress of Ossoviets.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Ossovets.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the Struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
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J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 18, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marhal Koniev
Troops of the First Ukrainian Front, having forced the River Vistula in the Sandomir area, as a result of stubborn fighting advanced up to 50 kilometres, expanded the bridgehead they had captured on the western bank of the Vistula up to 120 kilometres along the front, and today, August 18, captured by storm the town of Sandomir, important German defence strongpoint on the left bank of the River Vistula.
In the fighting during the forcing of the Vistula and for the capture of the Sandomir bridgehead, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lt.-Gen. Pukhov, Lt.-Gen. Zhadov, Col.-Gen. Gordov, Maj.-Gen. Cherokmanov, Maj.-Gen. Onupriyenko, Maj.-Gen. Rodimtsev, Maj.-Gen. Puzikov, Maj.-Gen. Zakharov, Maj.-Gen Vekhin, Col. Belyayev, Maj.-Gen. Pankratov, Maj.-Gen. Krasnov, Col. Muratov, Maj.-Gen. Gladkov, Lt.-Col. Madetyan, Col. Samsonoy, Col. Kolobov, Maj.-Gen. Trofimov, Maj.-Gen. Baklanov, Maj.-Gen. Oleinikov, Maj.-Gen. Motov, Colk Skryganov, Maj.-Gen. Pichugin, Maj.-Gen Sukhanov, Col. Rusakov and Maj.-Gen. Antsiferov.
Artillerymen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Artillery Varentsov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Yarovoi, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Polosukhin, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Kubeyev, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Dzevulsky, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Poluyektov, Col. Khussid, Lt.-Col. Tsessed Lt.-Col. Petrun, Col. Bassov, Col. Dobriansky, Col. Chevol, Lt.-Col. Korozin, Col. Rukosuyev, Col. Sussky and Col. Franchenko.
Tankmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Tank Troops Novikov, Lt.-Gen. of Tank Troops Getman, Lt.-Gen. of Tank Troops Sukhov, Maj.-Gen.Dremov, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Novilov and Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Mitrofanov. Airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Krasovsky, Lt.-Gen. of Aviation Ryazanov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Agaltsov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Baranchuk, Lt.-Col. Fetissov, Lt.-Col. of Aviation Zlatosvetov, Col. Ossadchi, Col.Kurochkin, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Utin, Col. Pokryshkin, Col. Machin, Col. Geibso and Col. Yuzeyev. Sappers commanded by Lt.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Galitsky, Col. Volodin, Col. Sokolov, Col. Gordyukov, Col. Salaokhov and Col. Bodolynny. Signallers commanded by Lt.-Gen. of Signal Troops Bulychov, Maj.-Gen. of Signal Troops Akhremenko, Col. Bogomolov and Lt.-Col. Kostin.
To ommemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the crossing of the Vistula and the capture of the Sandomir Ipgehead will be recommended for conferment of the names of Sandomir and Vistula and award of orders.
Today, August 18, at 23.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our valient troops of the First Ukrainian Front which forced the River Vistula and captured the Sandomir bridgehead.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which forced the Vistula and liberated Sandomir.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
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J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day No. 152
August 20, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Comrades pilots, navigators, air gunners,, wireless operators, engineers, technicians/ motor-men, officers and generals of fighter, assault, bomber and reconaissance avaiation!
On All-Union Aviation Day, I greet you and congratulate you on your successes in th struggle against the German invaders!
Together with the whole Red Army, Sovie aviation is fighting a fierce struggle agains;, the German-fascist invaders and is inflictin destructive blows on the enemy's manpower an' equipment, and against his rear and communica" tions.
The selfless labour of the men and wornen workers, the high skill of Soviet aircraf designers and engineers, have made it possibl to overcome the former numerical superior!
of the German Air Force and to arm the air forces of the Red Army and the Red Fleet with many thousands of high-quality war-planes.
Our airmen have shown unexampled valour, heroism and courage, and our commanders and superiors skill and military mastery in the direction of our Air Force in air combats with the enemy.
As a result, our military aviation today has complete domination in the air, over enemy aviation.
Thousands of wonderful pilots, navigators and air gunners are more and more increasing the successes of our armed forces, and are routing the enemy on land and in the air.
To commemorate the successes achieved by our military aviation, I order that today, Aviation Day, August 20, at 17.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, shall salute our gallant aviators with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns.
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
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J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 22, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Malinovsky, announces that troops of the Second Ukrainian Front, going over to the offensive, with the support of massed blows from artillery and aircraft, smashed the strong and deeply echeloned enemy defences north-west of Jassy and during three days offensive engagements, advanced up to 60 kilometres, expanding their breakthrough up to 120 kilometres along the front.
In the course of the offensive, the troops of the Second Ukrainian Front captured the powerful strongpoints in the enemy defences the towns of Jassy, Tyrgu-Frumos and Ungen, and captured in fighting more than 200 other populated places.
The Order mentions 105 commanders of troops artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 22, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Tolbukhin, announces that troops of the Third Ukrainian Front, going over to the offensive with the support of massed blows by artillery and aircraft, broke through the strongly fortified and deeply developed enemy defences south of Bendery, and during three days offensive engagements advanced up to 70 kilometres and expanded the breakthrough up to 150 kilometres along the front, liberating more than 150 popolated places, including the large ones of Kaushany, Chimishlia, Leipzig and Tarutino.
The Order mentions 58 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 23, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Malinovsky, announces that, on August 23, troops of the Second Ukrainian Front, as a result of a swift blow by tank and infantry formations, captured the town of Vaslui - an important communications centre and strongpoint of the enemy defences between the Rivers Sereth and Pruth.
The Order mentions 18 commanders of tankmen, troops, artillerymen and airmen whose units and formations have distinguished them-fselves.
A salute of 12 salvoes was fired from 124 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 23, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addresed to Army-General Tolbukhin, announces that, on August 23, troops of the Third Ukrainian Front, continuing their offensive, carried by storm the towns Bendery and Byelgorod-Dniestrovsky (Akkerman), important strongpoints of the enemy defences on the Lower Dniester.
The Order mentions 18 commanders of troops, artillerymen, airmen, seamen and sappers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 12 salvoes was fired from 124 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 23, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Koniev, announces that, on August 23, troops of the First Ukrainian Front, developing their offensive, carried by storm the town of Dembica, a large aircraft industry centre and important communication centre in the Cracow direction.
The Order mentions 31 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 12 salvoes was fired from 124 Moscow guns.
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Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
Addressed to Army-Generals Tolbukhin and Malinovsky
August 24, 1944
TROOPS of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, with vigorous collaboration of troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, as a result of a skilful outflanking manœuvre and a frontal attack to-day, August 24, captured by storm the capital of the Moldavian S.S.R.—the city of Kishinev, an important communications junction and powerful strong-point in the enemy defences.
In the fighting for the capture of the city of Kishinev distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Berzarin, Lieut.-Gen. Galanin, Lieut.-Gen. Koroteyev, Maj.-Gen. Firsov, Maj.-Gen. Zherebin, Maj.-Gen. Latyshev, Maj.-Gen. Biryukov, Maj.-Gen. Seryugin, Col. Shostatsky, Maj.-Gen. Sokolov, Maj.-Gen. Syzranov, Col. Fomichenko, Maj.-Gen. Fedorovsky, Col. Khilchevsky, Col. Frolov, Col. Afonin, Maj.-Gen. Tsvetkov, Col. Chizhov and Maj.-Gen. Bunyashin; Artillerymen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Kosenko, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Tsikalo, Col. Pavlov, Col. Sokolov, and Lieut.-Col. Klimenkov; Tankmen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Polozkov, Col. Anisimov, Col. Tyaglov and Col. Andreyev, Airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Sudets and Col.-Gen. of Aviation Goryunov; Sappers commanded by Col. Furs, Col. Malov and Col. Chevychelov; Signallers commanded by Col. Falin and Lieut.-Col. Sukhikh.
To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the capture of Kishinev will be recommended for conferment of the name "Kishinev" and award of Orders.
To-day, August 24, at 22.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 24 artillery salvoes from 324 guns our gallant troops of the 3rd and 2nd Ukrainian Front which captured the city of Kishinev.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Kishinev.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. Stalin
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Moscow
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 24, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Malinovsky, announces that troops of the Second Ukrainian Front, as a result of a vigorous offensive of tank formations, cavalry and in-Tantry, routed the enemy grouping south of Jassy and, on August, 24, captured the towns of Roman, Bacau, Barlad and Husi, strategically important strongpoints of the enemy defences covering the roads to the central districts of Rumania.
The Order mentions 63 commanders of tankmen, Don Cossacks cavalry, troops, artillerymen,airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 25, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Maslennikov, announces that, on August 25, troops of the Third Baltic Front, continuing their offensive, carried by storm the town and large communications centre of Tartu (Yuryev Derpt), important strongpoint in the German defences covering the roads to the central area of Esthonia.
The Order mentions 53 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 26, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Tolbukhin, announces that troops of the Third Ukrainian Front, developing their offensive, on August 26, carried by storm the Regional centre of the Ukraine, the town and fortress of Izmail, important strongpoint in the enemy defences on the Lower Danube.
The Order mentions 16 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes v/as fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 27, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Tolbukhin, announces that, on August 27, troops of the Third Ukrainian Front captured the town of Galatz - large railway junction and most important port on the Danube.
The Order mentions 23 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 27, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Malinovsky, announces that troops of the Second Ukrainian Front, as a result of a vigorous attack by tank formations and infantry, carried by storm the towns and large communications centres of Focsani and Romnicul-Sarat (Rymnik), important strongpoints of the German defences.
The Order mentions 28 commanders of tankmen, troops, artillerymen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished thmselves.
A saint of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
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J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 28, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Bay, addressed to Army-General Tolbukhin, announces that troops of the Third Ukrainian Front, on August 28, captured the town of Brailov, a large river port and important defence strongpoint of the German invaders on the Danube.
The Order mentions 14 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 12 salvoes was fired from 124 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 28, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Admiral Oktyabrsky, announces that ships and landing detachments of the Black Sea Fleet, having forced the Danube, captured the town and port of Tulcea and, as a result of a landing operation from the sea, captured the port of Sulina - important naval base of the German invaders on the Black Sea.
The Order mentions 16 commanders of sailors, marines, airmen and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
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J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 29, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Tolbukhin and Admiral Oktyabrsky, announces that, on August 29, troops of the Third Ukrainian Front, as a result of a swift offensive by motorised and tank formations, in co-ordination with vessels and troop landings of the Black Sea Fleet, captured the town and most important port on the Black Sea - Constanza, which fpr three years has served as the main base of the navy of the German-fascist invaders.
The Order mentions 34 commanders of troops, tankmen, artillerymen, sailors, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
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J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 30, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Malinovsky, announces that, on August 30, troops of the Second Ukrainian Front, continuing their offensive, captured in battle the town of Ploesti, main centre of the Rumanian oil industry. Thus, with the capture of Buzau and Ploesti, the liberation of all the Rumanian oil regions from the German invaders has been completed.
The Order mentions 27 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
August 31, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Malinovsky, announces that, on August 31, troops of the Second Ukrainian Front, as a result of a vigorous offensive, routed the grouping of German troops in the area of Ploesti and south of Ploesti and entered the city of Buca-rest, having liquidated the German threat to the capital of Rumania from the north.
The Order mentions 44 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 24 artillery salvoes was fired from 324 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 6, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Troops of the Second Byelorussian Front today, September 6, captured by storm the town and fortress of Ostrolenka, an important strong-point in the German defences on the Narew River.
In the fighting for the town and fortress of Ostrolenko, distinction was won by troops commanded by Col,-Gen. Gorbatov, Lt.-Gen. Grish-in, Maj.-Gen. Chuvakov, Maj.-Gen. Urbanovich, Maj.-Gen. Terentyev, Maj.-Gen. Kuznetsov, Col. Abilov, Maj.-Gen. Kubasov, Col. Grekov, Maj.-Gen. Slits, Col. Verevkin, Col. Konovalov, Maj.-Gen. Kirillov, Col. Tarasov, Col. Mikhal-itsin, Maj.-Gen. Nikitin and Maj.-Gen. Gaspar-yan; artillerymen commanded by Lt.-Gen. of Artillery Sokolsky, Lt.-Gen. of Artillery Semon-ov, Col. Dergach, Col. Mikhno, Col. Malofeyev, Col. Roshchin and Col. Korytko; tankmen commanded by Col. Aparin, Col. Rasskazov, Col. Dagilis and Lt.-Col. Zirka; airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of. Aviation Vershinin, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Getman, Lt.-Gen. of Aviation Osipenko, Col. Smolovik, Lt.-Col. Kazachenko and Maj. Bershanskaya; sappers commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Zhilin, Col. Shchitikov and Col. Artsishevsky; and signallers commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Signal Troops Mishin, Col. Khilchenko, Capt. Nyrkov, Capt. Zaichko and Capt. Borisov.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the capture of the town and fortress of Ostrolenka will be recommended for conferment of the name Ostrolenka and award of orders.
Today, September 6, at 21,00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops of the Second Byelorussian. Front which captured the town and fortress of Ostro-lenka.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Ostrolenka.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 9, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Troops of the Third Ukrainian Front on September 8 crossed the frontier between Rumania and Bulgaria, and in two days advanced up to 170 kilometres, captured the important communication .centre Sumen (Sumla), the large Danube port Russe (Rustchuk) and, in collaboration with the Black Sea Fleet, captured the towns and important Black Sea ports of Varna and Burgas.
Our troops commenced operations in Bulgaria because the Bulgarian Government was unwilling to sever relations with Germany and was harbouring German armed forces on Bulgarian territory. As a result of the successful actions of our troops, the aim of these military operations has been achieved: Bulgaria has severed relations with Germany and declared war on her. Thus Bulgaria has ceased to be a support of German imperialism in the Balkans, as she had been for the last 30 years.
During the operations carried out on Bulgarian territory, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lt.-Gen. Shlemin, Lt.-Gen. Gagen and Lt.-Gen. Sharokhin; tankmen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Zhdanov, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Katkov and Lt.-Gen. of Tank Troops Sukhoruchkin; sailors commanded by Capt. of the First Rank Derevyanko, Capt. of the Second Rank Ratner and Maj. Katanov; and airmen commanded by Lt.-Gen. of Aviation Yermachenkov.
To commemorate the success achieved, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the operations on Bulgarian territory will be recommended for conferment of the names Rustchuk, Sumla, Varna and Burgas and for award of orders.
Today, September 9, at 23.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, shall in the name of the Motherland salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the Third Ukrainian Front and the sailors of the Black Sea Fleet who distinguished themselves in the operations on Bulgarian territory.
For excellent operations I express my thanks to all troops, ships and units under your command which took part in the operations in Bulgaria.
J. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 13, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Zakharov, announces that on September 13, troops of the Second Byelorussian Front, as a result of stubborn engagements, captured the town and fortress of Lomzha, an important strongpoint/ of the German defence on the Narew River.
The Order mentions 50 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers v/hose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 12 salvoes was fired from 124 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 14, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Rokossovsky, announces that troops of the First Byelorussian Front, as a result of prolonged and stubborn fighting, on September 14 captured the fortress of Praga, a suburb of Warsaw and an important strongpoint in the German defences on the eastern bank of the Vistula.
The Order mentions 55 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 19, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Maslennikov, announces that troops of the Third Baltic Front, going over to the offensive, have broken through the enemy defences and, on September 19, captured the town and large railway junction of Valga, a powerful strong-point of the German defences in southern Esthonia.
The Order mentions 54 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 12 salvoes was fired from 124 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 19, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Bagramyan, announces that troops of the First Baltic Front, passing over to the offensive, supported by massed blows of the artillery and air force, broke through the strong, deeply echeloned enemy defences south-east of the city of Riga, and in four days offensive fighting advanced up to 40 kilometres, widening the breakthrough to 120 kilometres along the front.
During the offensive the troops of the Front captured important strongpoints of the Germans defences - Bauska, Ietsava and Vecmuizha and Jaunjelgava and Tekava on the Western Dvina River - and also in the fighting captured more than 2,000 other populated places.
The Order mentions 82 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 20, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
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Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Gonorov-, announces that troops of the Leningrad Front, passing over to the offensive from the area north of Tartu, have broken through the strongly fortified enemy defences,and in the course of four days offensive fighting advanced 70 kilometres and widened their breach to 120 kilometres along the front, liberating more than 1,500 populated places, including the large ones of Magdalena, Mostve, Iygeva and Avinurme.
Simultaneously, west of the town of Narva, troops of the Leningrad Front in three days fighting advanced 60 kilometres, capturing more than 300 populated places, including Iyhvi, Kuremyae-Kula, Vasknarva and the Sonda railway junction.
The Order mentions 59 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
Addressed to Marshal Govorov
September 22, 1944
TROOPS of the Leningrad Front, as a result of a vigorous offensive, to-day, September 22, captured the capital of the Esthonian S.S.R., the town of Tallinn (Reval), an important naval base and large port on the Baltic Sea.
In the fighting for the capture of Tallinn distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Starikov, Lieut.-Gen. Fedyuninsky, Maj.-Gen. Trubachev, the Esthonian Corps commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Pern, Lieut.-Gen. Simonyak, Maj.-Gen. Yastrebov and Col. Zinovyev; Artillerymen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Artillery Odintsev, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Pochitolin, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Kazakov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Koznov, Col. Petrov, Col. Aru, Col. Tolkushev, Col. Skorobogatov, Col. Alferov, Lieut.-Col. Shulyaev, Lieut.-Col. Khrushch and Lieut.-Col. Popov; Tankmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Baranov, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Zazimko, Col. Kovalevsky, Lieut.-Col. Sayenkov, Lieut.-Col. Kartashev, Maj. Chernykh, Maj. Kuznetsov, Lieut.-Col. Gritsev, Lieut.-Col. Kuzin, Lieut.-Col. Kuslaku and Lieut.-Col. Chesnokov; Airmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Rybalchenko, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Samokhin, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Andreyev, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Antonov, Col. Matveyev, Col. Khatminsky, Col. Greskov, Col. Kurochkin, Col. Monzhosov, Col. Chelnokov and Lieut.-Col. Mekhannikov; Sappers commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Bychevsky, Col. Akatov, Lieut.-Col. Afanasyev, Maj. Chartsov, Maj. Fomenko and Maj. Voronov and signallers commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Signals Troops Kovalev and Col. Muzhev.
To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the capture of Tallinn will be recommended for conferment of the name "Tallinn" and award of Orders.
To-day, September 22, at 23.30 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland will salute with 24 artillery salvoes from 324 guns our gallant troops of the Leningrad Front, including the Esthonian Corps commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Pern, which captured the capital of Soviet Esthonia, Tallinn.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Tallinn.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. Stalin
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Moscow
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
September 23, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Govorov, announces that troops of the Leningrad Front, continuing their offensive, on September 23, captured the town of Paernu (Pernov), important port in the Gulf of Riga.
The Order mentions 30 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers, whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 12 salvoes was fired from 124 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Reply to the Workers of the Kramatorsk, Novo-Kramatorsk Stalin Plant of September, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
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To Comrades Peschany, Alpov, Koshman, Potanin, Kuznetsov, Shvets, Kokotko, Kalini-chenko, Freedman and August:
I greet and congratulate the workers, mechanics and office employees of the Novo-Kramatorsk Stalin Plant, and the builders of the Donbas section of the People's Commissariat of the Civil Engineering Industry and of the construction department of the People's Commissariat of the Heavy Machine Building Industry, on the tenth anniversary of the plant and on the great production victory they have achieved - the restoration of the plant's first group of shops and the production of the first pit hoisting machines for the Donets Basin and Krivoi Rog.
By your intensive labour you have succeeded in a brief' space of time, despite difficult war conditions, in restoring the first group of shops of one of the largest plants of heavy machine building, so essential to our country for the development of our socialist industry and the reparation of the damage inflicted by the enemy on the national economy.
The Party and the Government highly appreciate your selfless labour to increase the productive forces of our country.
I wish you further success in your efforts for the complete restoration of the plant.
J. STALIN
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
October 8, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Bagramyan
Troops of the First Baltic Front, with the support of troops of the Third Byelorussian Front, having gone over to the offensive from the area north-west and south-west of Shauliai (Shavli), broke through the heavily fortified enemy defences, and in four days offensive fighting, advanced up to 100 kilometres, widening the breakthrough up to 280 kilometres along the front.
During the offensive troops of the front captured the important strongpoints in the German defences Telsiai, Plungiany, Majeikiai, Triskiai, Tirskliai, Seda, Vormi and Kelmy, and also captured more than 2,000 otherpopulated places, including Papile, Pievenai, Nevarenai, Nerimdachai, Raundena, Kursianai, Kurtoviany, Sviakiany, Vitsodzi, Luk'iniki, Yanopol, Jorany, Medyngiany, Tvery, Povandemy, Jusefov, Ujventy, Koltyniany, Kroji, Savdyniki, Jozefovo, Stulgi, Bargaili, Nemokstay, Retovo, Illakiai, Derviany, Kovnatovo, Jemali, Veshviany, Leplavki, Eigir-djiai, Elki, Erjvilki and Vodjgiry.
In the fighting for the breakthrough of the enemy defences, distinction was won by troops commanded by Col.-Gen. Chistyakov, Lt.-Gen. Beloborodov, Lt.-Gen. Chanchibadze, Lt.-Gen. Kreizer, Lt.-Gen. Lyudnikov, Maj.-Gen. Fedyukin, Lt.-Gen. Yermakov, Lt.-Gen. Lopatin, Lt.-Gen. Ksenofontov, Maj.-Gen. Arushbanyan, Maj.-Gen. Samarsky, Maj.-Gen. Ibyansky, Maj.-Gen. Chernikov, Maj.-Gen. Sedulin, Lt.-Gen. Missan, Maj.-Gen. Neverov, Lt.-Gen. Bezuglov, Maj.-Gen. Oleshev, Maj.-Gen. Makaryev, Maj.-Gen. Kucheryavenko, Maj.-Gen. Belyayev, Col. Druzhinin, Maj.-Gen. Yeremenko, Maj.-Gen. Kudry-avtsev, Maj.-Gen. Gorbachov, Col. Pryakhin, Maj.-Gen. Gryzlov, Col. Lozhkin, Maj.-Gen. Vlasov, Col. Maikov, Maj.-Gen. Stankevsky, Col. Sivankov, Col. Sobyanin, Maj.-Gen. Kvash-nin, Col. Bibikov, Col. Kozhanov, Col. Popov, Col. Klets and Col. Urbsas.
Artillerymen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Artillery Khlebnikov, Lt.-Gen. of Artillery Bashanov, Lt.-Gen. of Artillery Milovsky, Lt.-Gen. of Artillery Makarov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Scheglov, Lt.-Gen. of Artillery Strelbit-sky, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Telegin, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery, Deresh, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Belyakov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Samborsky, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Stepanenko, Col. Chvykov, Col. Kapitonenko, Col. Lebedev, Col. Mironov, Col. Kuznetsov, Col. Skvortsov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Karsanov, Col. Dolgov, Col. Lukyanov, Col. Linkov, Col. Chaplin, Col. Zhezheruk and Col. Gaidukov.
Tankmen commanded by Lt.-Gen. of Tank Troops Vassilyev, Lt.-Gen. of Tank Troops Vol-sky, Lt.-Gen. of Tank Troops Skornyakov, Lt.-Gen. of Tank Troops Butkov, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Malakhov, Col. Volkov, Lt.-Gen. Koles-nikov, Col. Paramonov, Col. Sadovski, Col. Beryin, Col. Batalkin, Col. Feshenko, Col. Arkhipev, Col. Kutuzov, Col. Khrapovitsky, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Lipatov, Col. Menshov, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Yudin, Col. Stanislavsky, Lt.-Col. Pokolov, Col. Dolganov, Col. Yermakov, Lt.-Col. Kalinin and Col. Bespalov.
Airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Papivin, Col. Alexandrov, Col. Kuchma, Lt.-Gen. of Aviation Filin, Col. Kurbatov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Ivanov, Lt.-Gen. of Aviation Beletsky, Col. Plakhov, Col. Grashchenkov, Col. Stalin, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Kitayev, Col. Fokin, Col. Rykachev, Lt.-Col. Strulik, Lt.-Col. Rybakov, Col. Prutkov, Lt.-Col. Ku-ryakin, Col. Chuchev and Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Molokov.
Sappers commanded by Lt.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Kosarev, Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Kulinich, Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Kolmakov, Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Bryn-zov, Lt.-Col. Kuznetsov, Col. Stechishin, Col. Kucheruk and Col. Korotkov.
Signallers commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Signal Troops Babkin, Maj.-Gen. of Signal Troops Bo-rovyagin, Col. Zakharov, Maj.-Gen. of Sognal Troops Kokorln, Maj.-Gen. of Signal Troops Sorokin, Col. Minin and Col. Kovalenko.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the breakthrough shall be recommended for the award of orders.
Today, October 8, at 22.30 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the First Baltic Front, which broke through the German defences.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the breakthrough of the enemy defences.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
October 11, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Malinovsky, announces that troops of the Second Ukrainian Front, developing their successful offensive, on October 11, captured by storm the town of Cluj, capital of Transylvania. Simultaneously, troops of the front, having forced the River Tissa, captured the town of Szeged, large economic, political and administrative centre of Hungary.
The Order mentions 48 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
October 12, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Malinovsky, announces that on October 12, troops of the Second Uk rinian Front, as a result of a skilful outflanking manoeuvre by cavalry and tank formations, captured the large administrative and economic centre of Transylvania - the town of Oradea Mare (Grosswardein), an important communications junction and a powerful strongpoint in the enemy defences.
The Order mentions 19 commanders of cavalry, tankmen, troops, artillerymen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 12 salvoes was fired from 124 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
Addressed to Army-Generals Maslennikov and Yeremenko
October 13, 1944
TROOPS of the 3rd Baltic Front with the direct support of the troops of the 2nd Baltic Front, developing their successful offensive, to-day, October 13, captured by storm the capital of Soviet Latvia, the city of Riga, an important naval base and powerful German defence centre in the Baltic.
In the fighting for the capture of the city of Riga distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Romanovsky, Col.-Gen. Belov, Lieut.-Gen. Zakhvatayev, Lieut.-Gen. Roginsky, Col.-Gen. Kazakov, Lieut.-Gen. Korotkov, Maj.-Gen. Rezhdestvensky, the Latvian Corps under the command of Maj.-Gen. Brantkaln, Maj.-Gen. Mikisnin, Maj.-Gen. Verzhbitsky, Maj.-Gen. Siyazov, Lieut.-Gen. Khalusin, Maj.-Gen. Bunkov, Maj.-Gen. Martynchuk, Col. Abashin, Lieut.-Gen. Khoruzenko, Maj.-Gen. Stuchenko, Maj.-Gen. Kuleshov, Maj.-Gen. Vakhrameyev, Maj.-Gen. Lyaskin, Maj.-Gen. Polyakov, Maj.-Gen. Rodionov, Col. Nikonorov, Col. Tsetlya, Col. Mironenko, Col. Barshukov, Col. Simonov, Col. Gorodetsky, Col. Dudorov, Col. Kuchenev, Maj.-Gen. Makarov, Col. Basteyev, Col. Andonyev, Maj.-Gen. Gorishnii, Maj.-Gen. Shafarenko, Maj.-Gen. Kozhin, Maj.-Gen. Burlakin, Maj.-Gen. Rebrikov, Col. Moretsky, Col. Lomov, Col. Morozov, Col. Lazarev, Maj.-Gen. Isayev, Col. Kolobutin, Maj.-Gen. Andrushchenko, Col. Chernichenko, Maj.-Gen. Gribov, Maj.-Gen. Gusarov, Maj.-Gen. Kalnin, Col. Kovalenko, Col. Kalnin, Col. Kozlov, Col. Timoshenko, Col. Porfinov and Col. Starulchin; Artillerymen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Artillery Krasnopevtsev, Col.-Gen. of Artillery Nickhov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Ovchinnikov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Yegorov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Levin, Col. Shlepin, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Rogozin, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Kharlamov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Kulikov, Col. Ponomarenko, Col. Pumpur, Col. Ivanov, Col. Kolosov, Col. Degtyarenko, Col. Kamorny, Lieut.-Col. Yegorov, Col. Skurikhin and Col. Ivashchenko; Tankmen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Kolosov, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Shaposhnikov, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Sakhno, Col. Ivanovich, Col. Ovsyannikov, Lieut.-Gen. Mzhachikh, Lieut.-Col. Fedorov, Lieut.-Col. Khomenko, Lieut.-Col. Kiselev; Airmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Zhuravlev, Col.-Gen. of Aviation Naumenko, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Yukhanov, Lieut.Gen. of Aviation Nestertsov, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Buyansky, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Danilov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Lebedev, Col. Dodonov, Col. Andreyev, Lieut.-Col. Podmogilnov, Col. Polushko, Lieut.-Col. Kulish, Lieut.-Col. Zolochevsky, Maj. Yakovlev, Lieut.-Col. Rasskazov and Capt. Neuimin; Sappers commanded by Maj.-Gen. Kirchevsky, Maj.-Col. Pelipets, Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Chepurov, Col. Sergeyev, Col. Poshekhontsev, Col. Rogovich, Col. Pavshuk, Col. Marchak, Lieut.-Col. Sobolev, Lieut.-Col. Anglichanov and Maj. Karpunenko; Signallers commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Signals Troops Sinclnikov, Maj.-Gen. of Signals Troops Panin, Col. Korplyakov, Col. Sokolov, Lieut.-Col. Drobkis, Lieut.-Col. Brandelis, Lieut.-Col. Mekensin and Maj. Kosobokov.
To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the capture of the city of Riga will be recommended for conferment of the name "Riga" and award of Orders.
To-day, October 13, at 23.00 hours (Moscow time) the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland will salute with 24 artillery salvoes from 324 guns our gallant troops of the 3rd and 2nd Baltic Fronts, including the Latvian Corps commanded by Maj.-Gen. Brantkaln, which captured the capital of Soviet Latvia, the city of Riga.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the city of Riga.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fighting for the freedom and independence of our Motherland! Death to the German invaders!
J. Stalin
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Moscow
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
October 15, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Meretskov and Admiral Golovko, announces that troops of the Karelian Front, breaking through the strongly fortified defences north-west of Murmansk on October 15, with the support of ships and, landing parties of the Northern Fleet, captured the town Petsamo (Pechenga), important naval base and powerful strongpoint of the German defence in the extreme north.
The Order mentions 66 commanders of troops, sailors, artillerymen, airmen, tankmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
October 18, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Col.-Gen. Petrov, announces that troops of the Fourth Ukrainian Front, continuing their offensive, have crossed the Carpathian Range and - having captured the Passes of Lupkovo, Ruske, Uzok, Verecky, Viskovsky and Jablinicky (Tatar) advanced into the depth of the territory of Czechoslovakia up to 20 - 50 kilometres along a front of 275 kilometres.
In the course of the offensive, the troops of the front captured the Czechoslovak towns of Koros-Mezo (Jasina) and Rachovo, and the large populated places of Certizna,Velka-Polana, Ruske, Ljuta, Uzok, Nizni, Verecky, Zalomicka, Pilipecj Holyatin, Toruna and Nagy-Bocko. In Northern Transylvania they captured the town of Sighet.
The Order mentions 61 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
October 20, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Malinovsky, announces that on October 20, troops of the Second Ukrainian Front, continuing their offensive, as a result of an outflanking manoeuvre by cavalry and tank formations and in combination with a frontal attack, carried by storm the large industrial centre of Hungary, Debreczen - an important communications centre and powerful strongpoint of the enemy defence.
The Order mentions 70 commanders of cavalrymen, tankmen, troops, artillery, airmen,, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
October 20, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Tolbukhin, announces that troops of the Third Ukrainian Front, jointly with troops of the Yugoslav National Liberation Army, in stiff fighting completed the annihilation of the German garrison in the city of Belgrade and on October 20, liberated the capital of our Ally Yugoslavia from the German invaders.
The Order mentions 71 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, ships and units of the Danube Flotilla, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 24 salvoes was fired from 324 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
October 22, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Malinovsky, announces that on October 22, troops of the Second Ukrainian Front, as a result of a resolute blow by cavalry and. tank formations, captured the town of Nyireghaza a large communications junction and important strongpoint of the enemy defences on Hungarian territory.
The Order mentions 27 commanders of cavalrymen, tankmen, artillerymen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 12 salvoes was fired from 124 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
October 23, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Meretskov, announces that troops of the Karelian Front, continuing their offensive west and south-west of Pechenga (Petsamo), under the difficult conditions of the Arctic, liberated the entire nickel production area from the German invaders and captured the important populated places of the Pechenga (Petsamo) Region, Nickel, Ahmalahti and Salmijarvi.
The Order mentions 59 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 12 salvoes was fired from 124 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
October 23, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Chernyakhovsky, announces that troops of the Third Byelorussian Front, having launched an offensive, supported by massed artillery and aircraft, have broken through the permanent, deeply echeloned German defences covering the frontier of East Prussia and invaded East Prussia to a depth of 30 kilometres along a front of 140 kilometres. In the course of the offensive, troops of this front captured the powerful strongpoints of the enemy defence Schirwindt, Naumietsis, (Wladislavow), Willuhnen, Virbalis (Verzhobolovo), Kibartai (Kibarty), Eydtkuhnen, Stallupoenen, Milluhnen, Walterkehmen, Pillu-poenen, Wysztnyec, Mehlkehmen, Rominten, Gross Rominten, Vizhayny, Schitkehmen, Przerosl, Goldap, Filipow and Suvalki, as well as some 900 other populated places, of which more than 400 are on the territory of East Prussia.
The Order mentions 133 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
October 25, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Malinovsky, announces that troops of the Second Ukrainian Front on October 25, carried by storm the towns of Satu-Mare and Careii, important strongpoints of the enemy defence in Northern Transylvania. Thus our troops have completed the liberation of Transylvania from the enemy.
The Order mentions 45 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
October 25, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Meretskov, announces that troops of the Karelian Front, pursuing the German troops, have crossed the State frontier of Norway and under difficult Arctic conditions, on October 25, captured the town of Kirkenes, an important port on the Barents Sea.:
The Order mentions 74 commanders of troops, sailors, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
The Order mentions 29 commanders of troops artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 12 salvoes was fired from 124 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
October 26, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
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Order of the Day, addressed to Col.-Gen. Petrov, announces that troops of the Fourth Ukrainian Front, on October 26, on the territory of the Czechoslovak Republic, captured the industrial centre of the Carpatho-Ukraine, the town of Mukacevo, an important junction of communications and strongpoint of the enemy defences in the southern spurs of the Carpathians.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
October 27, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
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Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Petrov, announces that on October 27, troops of the Fourth Ukrainian Front, as a result of a vigorous offensive, captured on the territory of the Czechoslovak Republic, the chief town of the Carpatho-Ukraine, Uzhorod, large communications junction and important strong-point in the enemy defence.
The Order mentions 34 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themslves.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
November 1, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
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Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Meretskov and Admiral Golovko, announces that troops of the Karelian Front, in co-ordination with formations and ships of the Northern Fleet, on the offensive in difficult Arctic conditions, on November 1,accomplished the complete liberation of the Pechenga (Petsamo) Region from the German invaders.
The Order mentions 91 commanders of troops, ships, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
November 4, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Malinovsky, announces that troops of the Second Ukrainian Front, on November 4, on Hungarian territory, carried by storm the town and large railway junction of Szolnok, an important strong point in the enemy defence on the River Tisza.
The Order mentions 35 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 12 salvoes was fired from 124 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
J. Stalin Receives Warsaw Delegation
November 5, 1944
Source : Works, Vol. 15
Publisher : Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
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My respected Mr. Spyhalski, respected delegates :
I accept with thanks from your hands the gift of the capital of Poland, Warsaw, as a mark of the fraternal feelings of the Polish people towards the peoples of the Soviet Union, and as a symbol of the firm fighting alliance between Poland and the Soviet Union against our common enemy, Hitlerite Germany.
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J. V. Stalin
Speech at Celebration Meeting
of the Moscow Soviet
of Working People's Deputies
and Moscow Party and Public Organizations
November 6, 1944
COMRADES, to-day the Soviet people celebrate the 27th Anniversary of the triumph of the Soviet Revolution in our country.
This is the fourth time that our country is observing the anniversary of the Soviet Revolution in the midst of the war against the German-fascist invaders.
This does not mean, of course, that the fourth year of the war does not differ from the preceding three years of war in its results. On the contrary, there is a radical difference between them. Whereas the preceding two years of the war were years when the German forces were on the offensive and when they advanced into the interior of our country—years when the Red Army was compelled to fight defensive actions—and whereas the third year of the war was a year of radical change on our front, when the Red Army launched powerful offensive actions, smashed the Germans in a number of decisive battles, cleared the German troops out of two-thirds of the Soviet territory and compelled them to pass to the defensive while the Red Army was still waging war on the German forces single-handed without substantial support from the Allies—the fourth year of war has been a year of decisive victories over the German forces for the Soviet armies and the armies of our Allies, a year in which the Germans, now compelled to fight on two fronts, found themselves flung back to the German frontiers.
In the upshot, this year has ended in the expulsion of the German forces from the Soviet Union, France, Belgium and Central Italy, and the transfer of hostilities to German territory.
I. Germany in the Vice Between the Two Fronts
The decisive successes of the Red Army this year and the expulsion of the Germans from Soviet territory were predetermined by the succession of shattering blows which our troops dealt the German forces, beginning as far back as last January and continuing throughout the year under review.
The first blow was struck by our troops in January this year at Leningrad and Novgorod, when the Red Army broke up the permanent German defences and flung the enemy back to the Baltic. This blow resulted in the liberation of the Leningrad Region.
The second blow was struck in February and March this year on the River Bug, when the Red Army routed the German forces and flung them beyond the Dniester. As a result of this blow the Ukraine west of the Dnieper was freed of the German-fascist invaders.
The third blow was struck in April and May this year in the area of the Crimea, when the German troops were flung into the Black Sea. As a result of this blow the Crimea and Odessa were delivered from German oppression.
The fourth blow was struck in June this year in the area of Karelia, when the Red Army routed the Finnish forces, liberated Vyborg and Petrozavodsk, and flung the Finns back into the interior of Finland. This blow resulted in the liberation of the greater part of the Karelo-Finnish Soviet Republic.
The fifth blow was struck at the Germans in June and July this year, when the Red Army utterly routed the German forces at Vitebsk, Bobruisk and Mogilev; this blow culminated in the encirclement of thirty German divisions at Minsk. As a result of this blow our forces (a) liberated the whole of the Byelorussian Soviet Republic, (b) gained the Vistula and liberated a considerable part of our Ally Poland, (c) gained the Niemen and liberated the greater part of the Lithuanian Soviet Republic; and (d) forced the Niemen and approached the frontiers of Germany.
The sixth blow was struck in July and August this year in the area of the West Ukraine, when the Red Army routed the German forces at Lvov and flung them beyond the San and the Vistula. As a result of this blow: (a) the Western Ukraine was liberated, and (b) our troops forced the Vistula and set up a strong bridgehead beyond it west of Sandomir.
The seventh blow was struck in August this year in the Kishinev and Jassy area, when our troops utterly routed the German and Rumanian forces. It culminated in the encirclement of 22 German divisions at Kishinev, this number not including Rumanian divisions. As a result of this blow: (a) the Moldavian Soviet Republic was liberated, (b) Germany's Rumanian ally was put out of action and declared war on Germany and Hungary, (c) Germany's Bulgarian ally was put out of action and likewise declared war on Germany, (d) the road was opened for our troops to Hungary, Germany's last ally in Europe, and (e) the opportunity arose to reach out a helping hand to our Ally Yugoslavia, against the German invaders.
The eighth blow was struck in September and October this year in the Baltics, when the Red Army routed the German forces at Tallinn and Riga and drove them from the Baltics. As a result of this blow (a) the Esthonian Soviet Republic was liberated, (b) the greater part of the Latvian Soviet Republic was liberated, (c) Germany's Finnish ally was put out of action and declared war on Germany, and (d) over 30 German divisions found themselves cut off from Prussia and gripped in pincers between Tukums and Libava where they are now being hammered to a finish by our troops. (Prolonged applause.)
In October this year the ninth blow was launched by our troops between the Tisza and the Danube in the area of Hungary; its purpose is to put Hungary out of the war and turn her against Germany. As a result of this blow, which has not yet been consummated: (a) our forces rendered direct assistance to our Ally Yugoslavia, in driving out the Germans and liberating Belgrade; (b) our troops obtained the opportunity of crossing the Carpathians and stretching out a helping hand to our Ally the Czechoslovak Republic, part of whose territory has already been freed from the German invaders.
Lastly, at the end of October this year a blow was dealt at the German troops in Northern Finland, when the German troops were knocked out of the Pechenga area and our troops, pursuing the Germans, entered the territory of our Ally Norway. (Applause.)
I shall not give figures of losses in killed and prisoners which the enemy sustained in these operations, or the numbers of guns, tanks, aircraft, shells and machine-guns captured by our troops. You are probably acquainted with these figures from the Communiqués of the Soviet Information Bureau.
Such are the principal operations carried out by the Red Army during the past year, operations which have led to the expulsion of the German forces from our country.
As a result of these operations as many as 120 divisions of the Germans and their allies have been routed and put out of action. Instead of the 257 divisions that faced our front last year, of which 207 were German, we now have against our front—after all the "total" and "super-total mobilizations"—a total of only 204 German and Hungarian divisions, the German divisions numbering no more than 180.
It must be admitted that in this war Hitler Germany with her fascist army has proved to be a more powerful, crafty and experienced adversary than Germany and her army were in any war of the past. It should be added that in this war the Germans succeeded in exploiting the productive forces of nearly the whole of Europe and the quite considerable armies of their vassal states. And, if in spite of these favourable conditions for the prosecution of the war, Germany nevertheless finds herself on the brink of imminent destruction, the explanation is that her chief adversary, the Soviet Union, has surpassed Hitler Germany in strength. (Loud applause.)
What must be regarded as a new factor in the war against Hitler Germany this past year is that this year the Red Army has not been operating against the German forces single-handed, as was the case in previous years, but together with the forces of our Allies. The Teheran Conference was not held for nothing. The decision of the Teheran Conference on a joint blow at Germany from west, east and south began to be carried out with astounding precision. Simultaneously with the summer operations of the Red Army on the Soviet-German Front, the Allied forces launched the invasion of France and organized powerful offensive operations which compelled Hitler Germany to wage war on two fronts. The troops and Navy of our Allies accomplished a mass landing operation on the coast of France that was unparalleled in history for scope and organization, and overcame the German fortifications with consummate skill.
Thus, Germany found herself gripped in a vice between two fronts.
As was to be expected, the enemy failed to withstand the joint blows of the Red Army and the Allied forces. The enemy's resistance was broken, and in a short time his troops were thrust out of Central Italy, France, Belgium and the Soviet Union. The enemy was flung back to the German frontiers.
There can be no doubt that without the opening of the Second Front in Europe, which holds as much as 75 German divisions, our troops would not have been able to break the resistance of the German forces and thrust them out of the Soviet Union in such a short time. But it is equally indubitable that without the powerful offensive operations of the Red Army in the summer of this year, which held as many as 200 German divisions, the forces of our Allies could not have coped so quickly with the German forces and thrust them out of Central Italy, France and Belgium.
The task is to keep Germany gripped in this vice between the two fronts.
This is the key to victory.
II. The Great Exploit of the Soviet People in the Patriotic War
If the Red Army was able successfully to fulfil its duty to its country and drive the Germans from the Soviet land, it was because of the unreserved support it received in the rear from our whole country, from all the peoples of our country. "Everything for the Front!" has been the watchword this year in the selfless work of all Soviet people—workers, peasants, intellectuals—as well as in the directing activities of our Government and Party bodies.
The past year has been marked by fresh successes in industry, agriculture and transport, by further progress in our war economy.
With the war in its fourth year, our factories are producing several times as many tanks, planes, guns, mortars and ammunition as in its opening phase. In the rehabilitation of agriculture the most difficult period lies behind us. With the fertile lands of the Don and Kuban restored to our country, after the liberation of the Ukraine, our agriculture is recovering rapidly from its grave losses. The Soviet railways have stood a strain that the transport of other countries would hardly be able to bear. All this indicates that the economic foundation of the Soviet State has proved to possess infinitely greater vitality than the economy of the enemy states.
The Socialist system born of the October Revolution has lent our people and our Army a great, invincible strength. Despite the heavy burden of this war, despite the temporary occupation by the Germans of very large and economically important parts of the country, the Soviet State did not reduce the supply of arms and ammunition for the front as the war proceeded, but increased it from year to year. To-day the Red Army has not less but more tanks, guns and planes than the German army. As for quality, our war material is far superior to that of the enemy in this respect. Just as the Red Army in its long and arduous single-handed struggle won military victory over the fascist forces, so the working people of the Soviet rear won an economic victory over the enemy in their long fight against Hitler Germany and her associates. (Loud applause.) The Soviet people have denied themselves many necessities, have consciously accepted serious material privations, in order to give more for the front. The unexampled hardships of the present war have not broken, but further tempered the iron will and fearless spirit of the Soviet people. Our people has justly won for itself the fame of a heroic nation.
Our working class gives all its strength for the cause of victory, constantly perfects the technique of production, increases the capacity of industrial enterprises, erects new mills and factories. The working class of the Soviet Union has a great labour exploit to its credit in the present war.
Our intellectuals proceed boldly along the road of innovation in the sphere of technique and culture, successfully promoting modern science, displaying the creative spirit in applying its achievements to the production of munitions for the Red Army. By their creative work the Soviet intellectuals have made an invaluable contribution to the enemy's defeat.
An army cannot fight and win without modern arms, but neither can it fight and win without bread, without food. Thanks to the solicitude of the collective farm peasantry, the Red Army is experiencing no shortage of food in this fourth year of war. Men and women collective farmers are supplying the workers and intellectuals with food, and industry with raw materials, making it possible for factories and mills producing arms and equipment for the front to function normally. Our collective farm peasantry, actively and fully conscious of its duty to its Motherland, is helping the Red Army to achieve victory over the enemy.
The matchless labour exploits of Soviet women and of our splendid youth will go down in history, for it is they who have borne the brunt of the work in the factories and mills, on the collective and state farms.
For the sake of the honour and independence of the Motherland Soviet women, young men and girls are displaying true valour and heroism on the labour front. They have shown themselves worthy of them fathers and sons, husbands and brothers who are defending the Motherland against the German-fascist fiends.
The labour of Soviet people in the rear, like the immortal deeds of our soldiers at the front, are rooted in the fervent exploits and life-giving spirit of Soviet patriotism.
The strength of Soviet patriotism lies in the fact that it is based not on racial or nationalistic prejudices, but on the peoples' profound loyalty and devotion to their Soviet Motherland, on the fraternal partnership of the working people of all the nationalities in our country. Soviet patriotism harmoniously combines the national traditions of the peoples and the common vital interests of all the working people of the Soviet Union. Far from dividing them, Soviet patriotism welds all the nations and peoples of our country into a single fraternal family. This should be regarded as the basis of the inviolable friendship of the peoples of the Soviet Union which is growing ever stronger. At the same time the peoples of the U.S.S.R. respect the rights and independence of the peoples of foreign countries and have always shown themselves willing to live in peace and friendship with neighbouring states. This should be regarded as the basis of the contacts growing and gaining strength between our State and the freedom-loving peoples. The reason Soviet men and women hate the German invaders is not because they are people of different nationality, but because they have brought immeasurable calamity and suffering on our people and on all freedom-loving peoples. It is an old saying of our people: "The wolf is not beaten because he is grey, but because he ate the sheep." (Laughter and prolonged applause.)
The German-fascists chose the misanthropic race theory for their ideological weapon, in the expectation that by preaching bestial nationalism they would create the moral and political conditions for the domination of the German invaders over the enslaved peoples. Actually, however, the policy of racial hatred pursued by the Hitlerites has proved a source of internal weakness and international isolation for the German-fascist State. The ideology and policy of racial hatred have been a factor in the disintegration of the Hitlerite bandit bloc. It cannot be considered an accident that not only the subjugated peoples of France, Yugoslavia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Belgium, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands have risen against the German imperialists, but also Hitler's former vassals—the Italians, Rumanians, Finns and Bulgarians. By their savage policy, the Hitler clique have set all the peoples of the world against Germany; and the so-called "chosen German race" has become the object of universal hatred.
In this war the Hitlerites have sustained not only a military defeat, but also a moral and political defeat. The ideology of equality of all races and nations, which has taken firm root in our country, the ideology of friendship among the peoples has emerged completely victorious over the Hitlerite ideology of bestial nationalism and racial hatred.
To-day, when the Patriotic War is drawing to its victorious conclusion, the historic role of the Soviet people is revealed in its full greatness. It is universally acknowledged now that by their selfless struggle the Soviet people have saved the civilization of Europe from the fascist vandals. That is the great service rendered by the Soviet people to the victory of mankind.
III. The Consolidation and Extension of the Front of the Anti-German Coalition. The Question of Peace and Security
The past year has been a year of triumph of the common cause of the anti-German coalition for the sake of which the peoples of the Soviet Union, Great Britain and the United States of America have united in fighting alliance. It has been a year of consolidation of the unity of the three main Powers and of co-ordination of their actions against Hitler Germany.
The decision of the Teheran Conference on joint actions against Germany and the brilliant realization of that decision are one of the striking indications of the consolidation of the front of the anti-Hitler Coalition. There are few instances in history of plans for large-scale military operations undertaken in joint actions against a common enemy being carried out so fully and with such precision as the plan for a joint blow against Germany drawn up at the Teheran Conference.
There can be no doubt that without unity of opinion and co-ordination of actions of the three Great Powers, the Teheran decision could not have been realized so fully and with such precision. Nor on the other hand can there be any doubt that the successful realization of the Teheran decision was bound to serve to consolidate the front of the United Nations.
An equally striking indication of the solidity of the front of the United Nations is to be seen in the decisions of the Dumbarton Oaks Conference on post-war security. There is talk of differences between the three Powers on certain security problems. Differences do exist, of course, and they will arise on a number of other issues as well. Differences of opinion occur even among people in one and the same Party. They are all the more bound to occur between representatives of different States and different Parties. The surprising thing is not that differences exist, but that they are so few, and that as a rule in practically every case they are resolved in a spirit of unity and coordination among the three Great Powers. What matters is not that there are differences, but that these differences do not transgress the bounds of what the interests of the unity of the three Great Powers allow, and that, in the long run, they are resolved in accordance with the interests of that unity. It is known that more serious differences existed between us over the opening of the Second Front. But it is also known that in the end these differences were resolved in a spirit of complete accord. The same thing may be said of the differences at the Dumbarton Oaks Conference. What is characteristic of this Conference is not that certain differences were revealed there, but that nine-tenths of the security problems were solved at this Conference in a spirit of complete unanimity. That is why I think that the decisions of the Dumbarton Oaks Conference are to be regarded as a striking indication of the solidity of the front of the anti-German Coalition.
A still more striking indication of the consolidation of the front of the United Nations are the recent talks in Moscow with Mr. Churchill, the head of the British Government, and Mr. Eden, the British Foreign Secretary, held in an atmosphere of friendship and a spirit of perfect unanimity.
Throughout the war the Hitlerites have made frantic efforts to cause disunity among the United Nations and set them at loggerheads, to stir up suspicion and unfriendly feeling among them, to weaken their war effort by mutual distrust, and, if possible, by conflict between them as well. These ambitions of the Hitlerite politicians are easy enough to understand. For them there is no greater danger than the unity of the United Nations in the struggle against Hitlerite imperialism, and for them there would have been no greater military and political success than the splitting of the Allied Powers in their struggle against the common enemy. It is known, however, how futile the efforts of the fascist politicians to disrupt the alliance of the Great Powers have proved. That means that the alliance between the U.S.S.R., Great Britain and the United States of America is founded not on casual, transitory considerations, but on vital and lasting interests.
There can be no doubt that, having stood the strain of more than three years of war and being sealed with the blood of the nations risen in defence of their liberty and honour, the fighting alliance of the democratic powers will all the more certainly stand the strain of the concluding phase of the war. (Prolonged applause.)
The past year, however, has been not only a year of consolidation of the anti-German front of the Allied Powers, but also a year of its extension. It cannot be considered an accident that after Italy other allies of Germany—Finland, Rumania and Bulgaria—were also put out of the war. It should be noted that these States not only got out of the war but broke with Germany and declared war on her, thus joining the front of the United Nations. This signifies, undoubtedly, an extension of the front of the United Nations against Hitler Germany. Without doubt Germany's last ally in Europe, Hungary, will also be put out of action in the nearest future. This will mean the complete isolation of Hitler Germany in Europe and the inevitability of her collapse.
The United Nations face the victorious conclusion of the war against Hitler Germany.
The war against Germany will be won by the United Nations—of that there can no longer be any doubt to-day.
To win the war against Germany is to accomplish a great historic task. But to win the war does not in itself mean to ensure for the peoples a lasting peace and guaranteed security in the future. The task is not only to win the war but also to make new aggression and new war impossible—if not for ever, then at least for a long time to come.
After her defeat Germany will, of course, be disarmed, both in the economic and in the military political sense. It would, however, be naïve to think that she will not attempt to restore her might and launch new aggression. It is common knowledge that the German chieftains are already now preparing for a new war. History shows that a short period—some 20 or 30 years—is enough for Germany to recover from defeat and re-establish her might. What means are there to preclude fresh aggression on Germany's part, and if war should start nevertheless, to nip it in the bud and give it no opportunity to develop into a big war?
This question is the more appropriate since history shows that aggressor nations, the nations which attack, are usually better prepared for a new war than peace-loving nations which, having no interest in a new war, are usually behindhand with their preparations for it. It is a fact that in the present war the aggressor nations had an army of invasion all ready even before the war broke out—while the peace-loving nations did not even have adequate armies to cover their mobilization. One cannot regard as an accident such distasteful facts as the Pearl Harbour "incident," the loss of the Philippines and other Pacific Islands, the loss of Hong Kong and Singapore, when Japan, as the aggressor nation, proved to be better prepared for war than Great Britain and the United States of America, which pursued a policy of peace. Nor can one regard as an accident such a distasteful fact as the loss of the Ukraine, Byelorussia and the Baltics in the very first year of the war, when Germany, as the aggressor nation, proved better prepared for war than the peace-loving Soviet Union. It would be naïve to explain these facts by the personal qualities of the Japanese and the Germans, their superiority over the British, the Americans and the Russians, their foresight, etc. The reason here is not personal qualities but the fact that aggressor nations, interested in a new war, being nations that prepare for war over a long time and accumulate forces for it, usually are, and are bound to be, better prepared for war than peace-loving nations which have no interest in a new war. That is natural and understandable. This is, if you like, a law of history, which it would be dangerous to ignore.
Accordingly it is not to be denied that in the future the peace-loving nations may once more find themselves caught off their guard by aggression unless, of course, they work out special measures right now which can avert it.
Well, what means are there to preclude fresh aggression on Germany's part and, if war should start nevertheless, to stifle it at its very beginning and give it no opportunities to develop into a big war?
There is only one means to this end, apart from the complete disarmament of the aggressor nations: that is to establish a special organization made up of representatives of the peace-loving nations for the defence of peace and safeguarding of security; to put at the disposal of the directing body of this organization the necessary minimum of armed forces required to avert aggression, and to oblige this organization to employ these armed forces without delay if it becomes necessary, to avert or stop aggression, and to punish those guilty of aggression.
This must not be a repetition of the sad memory of the League of Nations, which had neither the right nor the means to avert aggression. It will be a new, special, fully authorized international organization having at its command everything necessary to defend peace and avert new aggression.
Can we expect the actions of this world organization to be sufficiently effective? They will be effective if the great Powers which have borne the brunt of the war against Hitler Germany continue to act in a spirit of unanimity and accord. They will not be effective if this essential condition is violated.
* * * * *
Comrades!
The Soviet people and the Red Army are successfully executing the tasks which have confronted them in the course of the Patriotic War. The Red Army has worthily fulfilled its patriotic duty and liberated our Motherland from the enemy: henceforth and for ever our soil is free of the Hitlerite pollution. Now remains its last, final mission: to complete, together with the armies of our Allies, the defeat of the German-fascist army, to finish off the fascist beast in its own den, and to hoist the flag of victory over Berlin. (Loud and prolonged applause). There is reason to expect that this task will be fulfilled by the Red Army in the none too distant future. (Loud and prolonged applause.)
Long live our victorious Red Army! (Applause.)
Long live our glorious Navy! (Applause.)
Long live the mighty Soviet people! (Applause.)
Long live our great Motherland! (Loud applause, all stand.)
Death to the German-fascist invaders! (Loud and prolonged applause, shouts of "Long live Comrade Stalin!")
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day, No. 220
November 7, 1944
COMRADES, Red Army men and Red Navy men, sergeants, officers and generals! Working people of the Soviet Union! Brothers and sisters forcibly driven to fascist slave labour in Germany!
In the name of the Soviet Government and our Bolshevik Party, I greet and congratulate you on the 27th Anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution!
We are celebrating the 27th Anniversary of the October Revolution in the midst of decisive victories of the Red Army over the enemies of our homeland. By the heroic efforts of the Red Army and the Soviet people our soil has been cleared of the German-fascist invaders.
This year the Soviet troops have rained incessant blows on the enemy, each one stronger than the last. In winter 1943-44 the Red Army scored outstanding victories in the Ukraine west of the Dnieper and routed the Germans before Leningrad. In the spring of this year the Red Army cleared the Crimea of the Germans. In the summer of 1944 our troops inflicted major defeats on the Hitlerite army, which brought about a radical change in the situation on the battlefront against the German-fascist invaders. The Red Army broke the powerful enemy defences on the Karelian Isthmus, and also between Lakes Ladoga and Onega, and knocked Finland out of the Hitlerite robber bloc. In the historic battle on Byelorussian soil the Red Army troops utterly routed the central grouping of the German troops, consisting of three armies, killing or capturing 540,000 German officers and men. In the battle in the south the Red Army surrounded and completely annihilated a group of German troops consisting of two armies; the Soviet troops wiped out or captured more than 250,000 German officers and men. The Red Army smashed the Germans in Rumania, threw them out of Bulgaria, and is battering them on the territory of Hungary. Our troops have crushed the Baltic grouping of the Hitlerite army. During the summer campaign of 1944 the Red Army has fought its way from Kishinev to Belgrade—more than 900 kilometres (550 miles), from Zhlobin to Warsaw—more than 600 kilometres (370 miles), from Vitebsk to Tilsit—550 kilometres (340 miles). The war has now been carried to the territory of fascist Germany.
In the course of the fighting, the Red Army has driven the German-fascist invaders from the entire territory of the Soviet Ukraine and, Byelorussia, the Karelo-Finnish, Moldavian, Esthonian, Latvian and Lithuanian Soviet Republics. The three-year-old fascist yoke on the lands of our fraternal Soviet Republics temporarily occupied by the Germans has been thrown off. The Red Army has restored freedom to tens of millions of Soviet people. The Soviet State frontier, treacherously violated by Hitlerite hordes on June 22, 1941, has been restored along its whole length, from the Black Sea to the Barents Sea.
Thus, the past year has been the year of complete liberation of Soviet soil from the German-fascist invaders.
Having completed the liberation of their native soil from the Hitlerite pollution, the Red Army is now helping the peoples of Poland, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia to break the chains of fascist slavery and to regain their freedom and independence.
In the winter and summer battles of the past year the Red Army demonstrated its increased military mastery. The Red Army soldiers skilfully broke up the fortified enemy lines, swiftly pursued the enemy, surrounded and annihilated him. In offensive battles they displayed efficient co-ordination of all Soviet arms and high skill in manœuvre. The Soviet fighters became tempered in battle, learned to rout and defeat the enemy. The Red Army has developed into a menacing force, and is superior to the enemy in its military ability and military equipment.
The strength of the Red Army is many times multiplied by the efficient work of the Soviet rear. The workers, collective farmers and intellectuals are honourably fulfilling their duty towards the Motherland, heroically overcoming the difficulties of war-time, uninterruptedly supplying the Red Army with arms, ammunition and provisions. Soviet economy is constantly increasing its strength and is rendering ever-growing assistance to the front.
The Red Army and the Soviet people are ready to strike new devastating blows at the enemy. The days of the blood-stained Hitlerite regime are numbered. Under the blows of the Red Army the fascist bloc has finally crumbled to pieces. Hitlerite Germany has lost most of its Allies. The large-scale operations in Western Europe, carried out with consummate skill by the armies of our Allies, brought about the defeat of the German forces in France and Belgium, and the liberation of these countries from fascist occupation. The allied troops have crossed Germany's western frontiers. The joint blows of the Red Army and the Anglo-American troops against Hitlerite Germany have brought nearer the hour of the victorious conclusion of the war. The encirclement of Hitlerite Germany is being completed. The den of the fascist beast has been invested on all sides, and no tricks of the enemy will save him from imminent complete defeat.
The Red Army and the armies of our Allies have taken up the initial positions for the decisive offensive against the vital centres of Germany. Now the task is to crush Hitlerite Germany within the shortest possible time, through a vigorous onslaught of the armies of the United Nations.
Comrades, Red Army men and Red Navy men, sergeants, officers and generals! Working people of the Soviet Union!
In the Great Patriotic War we have defended our Motherland from the invaders, finally eliminated the threat of enslavement of the peoples of the U.S.S.R. by the fascist fiends, and we now stand on the eve of complete victory.
To mark the historic victories of the Red Army at the front, and the great achievements of the workers, peasants and intellectuals in the rear, in honour of the liberation of the Soviet soil from the German-fascist invaders.
I order:
To-day, on the 27th Anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution, at 20 hours (Moscow time), a salute of 24 artillery salvoes to be fired in Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev, Minsk, Petrozavodsk, Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius, Kishinev, Tbilisi, Sevastopol and Lvov.
Hail the 27th Anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution!
Long live our free Soviet country!
Long Live our Red Army and Red Navy! Long live the great Soviet people!
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. Stalin
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Moscow
Stalin Archive | War Speeches Index
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day No. 225
November 19, 1944
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Comrades, artillerymen and mortar-gunners, engineers and technicians, officers and generals of the Soviet artillery!
Today the Soviet people are celebrating Red Army Artillery Day. The whole country is marking today the great importance of the artillery as the main shock-force of the Red Army.
As is well-known, the artillery was that force which helped the Red Army to check the enemy's advance at the approaches to Leningrad and Moscow. The artillery was that force which ensured the routing of the German troops by the Red Army at Stalingrad and Voronezh, at Kursk and Byelgorod, at Kharkov and Kiev, at Vitebsk and Bobruisk, at Leningrad and Minsk, at Jassy and Kishinev.
With its devastating fire the artillery effectively blazed the path for the infantry and tanks in the greatest battles of the Patriotic War, as a result of which the enemy has been ejected from our Motherland.
At present the Soviet artillery together with the whole of the Red Army is dealing crushing blows to the enemy's manpower, equipment and fortifications in the last decisive battles for victory over Germany.
Everybody knows that the Soviet artillery has achieved complete domination on the battlefield over the enemy artillery, that in numerous battles with the enemy Soviet artillery and mortar-gunners have covered themselves with the unfading glory of extraordinary courage and heroism, while commanders and chiefs have displayed high skill in directing fire.
This is a success of which our country may justly be proud.
Comrades, artillerymen and mortar-gunners, engineers and technicians, officers and generals of Soviet artillery! I congratulate you upon Artillery Day!
To mark the decisive successes of the Red Army artillery in the Patriotic War I hereby order:
Today, November 19, Artillery Day, at 19.00 hours, in the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the capitals of the Union Republics and in the cities of Leningrad, Stalingrad, Sevastopol, Odessa, Khabarovsk, Novosibirsk, Sverdlovsk, Gorky, Molotov and Tula, our glorious artillerymen shall be saluted on behalf of the Motherland, with 20 artillery salvoes.
May the Soviet artillery live and prosper to strike fear into the enemies of our Motherland!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
November 24, 1944
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Govorov and Admiral Tributs, announces that troops of the Leningrad Front, supported by ships of the Baltic Fleet, as a result of stubborn engagements, on November 24, completed the clearing of the Island of Saare Maa (Oesel), which the Germans had made into a strongpoint covering the approaches to the Gulf of Riga.
Thus the territory of Soviet Esthonia has been completely liberated from the German invaders.
The Order mentions 52 commanders of troops, sailors, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 20 salvoes was fired from 224 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive
J. V. Stalin
Order of the Day
November 26, 1944
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit "Marxists Internet Archive" as your source.
Order of the Day, addressed to Army-General Petrov, announces that troops of the Fourth Ukrainian Front, on November 26, captured on Czechoslovak territory, the towns of Mikhal-jovce and Humenne, important communications junctions and strongpoints in the enemy defence.
The Order mentions 55 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves.
A salute of 12 salvoes was fired from 124 Moscow guns.
Collected Works Index | Volume 15 Index
Works by Decade | J. V. Stalin Archive