Order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
28 January 1944
[No. 65]

ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Army General Meretskov

Troops of the Volkhov Front, developing their offensive, yesterday, 27 January, captured the town and large railway junction of Tosno, and today, 28 January, seized the town and important railway station of Lyuban, and south of Lyuban captured the railway stations of Pomeranye, Trubnikov Bor, Babino, and Torfyanoye. Thus the main trunk line connecting Moscow with Leningrad — the October Railway — has been freed from the German invaders along its entire length, with the exception of the station of Chudovo, where the enemy is blockaded and being annihilated.

In the fighting for the capture of the towns of Tosno and Lyuban, distinction was won by the troops of Lieutenant-General Roginsky, Major-General Fetisov, Major-General Kozachek, Major-General Platov, Major-General Absalyamov, Colonel Isakov, Colonel Tsygankov, Lieutenant-Colonel Parshikov, artillerymen of Major-General of Artillery Petropavlovsky, and tankmen of Major-General of Tank Troops Ivanov.

In commemoration of the success achieved, the formations and units that particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting are to be submitted for the award of the honorific titles "Tosno" and "Lyuban" and for the award of orders.

Today, 28 January, at 23:00 hours the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, salutes our valiant troops who captured the towns of Tosno and Lyuban with twelve artillery salvoes from one hundred and twenty-four guns.

For excellent military operations I express my gratitude to all troops under your command who 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!

Supreme Commander-in-Chief

Marshal of the Soviet Union I. STALIN

28 January 1944 [No. 65]