Order of the Day, January 26, 1944

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 Demidov, 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