Order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
19 July 1944
[No. 141]

ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Colonel-General Maslennikov

The troops of the 3rd Baltic Front, having forced the River Velikaya, broke through the strongly fortified, deeply developed German defences south of the town of Ostrov and in two days of offensive fighting advanced forward up to 40 kilometres, widening the breakthrough to 70 kilometres along the front.

In the course of the offensive, the troops of the front occupied more than 700 populated places, including the large populated places of Shanino, Zelenovo, and Krasnogorodskoye.

In the fighting during the forcing of the River Velikaya and the breakthrough of the enemy's defences, distinction was earned by the troops of Lieutenant-General Zakhvataev, Lieutenant-General Roginsky, Major-General Siyazov, Major-General Stepanenko, Major-General Nikishin, Major-General Rozhdestvenny; artillerymen of Colonel-General of Artillery Krasnopevtsev, Major-General of Artillery Kuteynikov, Major-General of Artillery Osmolovsky, Colonel Radchenko, Colonel Fastritsky; tankmen of Major-General of Tank Forces Kolosov, Major-General of Tank Forces Ivanov, Colonel Pshenets ky; airmen of Lieutenant-General of Aviation Zhuravlev, Colonel Polushko, Colonel Dodonov, Colonel Andreev, Lieutenant-Colonel Podmogily; sappers of Major-General of Engineer Forces Kirchevsky, Colonel Zaitsev, Colonel Poshekhontsev, Engineer-Colonel Polovnev; signallers of Major-General of Signal Forces Sinelnikov, Colonel Loloko, Colonel Sokolov.

In commemoration of the victory won, the formations and units that have most distinguished themselves in the fighting during the forcing of the River Velikaya and the breakthrough of the German defences are to be submitted for decoration with orders.

Today, 19 July, at 22 hours, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland salutes the valiant troops of the 3rd Baltic Front, who have forced the River Velikaya and broken through the German defences, with twenty artillery salvoes from two hundred and twenty-four guns.

For distinguished combat operations I declare my gratitude to the troops under your command who took part in the fighting during the forcing of the River Velikaya and the breakthrough of the enemy's defences.

Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the battles for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!

Death to the German invaders!

Supreme Commander-in-Chief

Marshal of the Soviet Union I. STALIN

19 July 1944 [No. 141]