Order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
22 July 1944
[No. 146]

ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To General of the Army Bagramyan

The troops of the 1st Baltic Front, as a result of a swift attack by infantry and tank formations, today, 22 July, captured the town and large communications centre of Panevezys (Ponevezh) — an important strongpoint of the German defences covering the main routes from the Baltic region to East Prussia.

In the fighting for the capture of the town of Panevezys, distinction was earned by the troops of Colonel-General Kuznetsov, Major-General Bakunin, Major-General Bobrakov, Major-General Tolstov, Lieutenant-Colonel Lev, Lieutenant-Colonel Zasypalov; artillerymen of Major-General of Artillery Telegin, Colonel Saprykin, Lieutenant-Colonel Boyko, Lieutenant-Colonel Shvetsov, [Colonel] Puzyrev; tankmen of Major-General of Tank Forces Skornyakov, Colonel Maksimov, Lieutenant-Colonel Gubernatorov; airmen of Lieutenant-General of Aviation Papivin, Colonel Aleksandrov, Colonel Kurbatov, Lieutenant-Colonel Klusson; sappers of Major-General of Engineer Forces Bazhenov, Lieutenant-Colonel Salnikov, Major Sargin, Captain Vinogradov; signallers of Colonel Chernov, Colonel Rybko.

In commemoration of the victory won, the formations and units that have most distinguished themselves in the fighting for the capture of the town of Panevezys are to be submitted for the conferral of the designation "Ponevezh" and for decoration with orders.

Today, 22 July, at 23 hours, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland salutes the valiant troops of the 1st Baltic Front, who have captured the town of Panevezys, with twelve artillery salvoes from one 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 for the liberation of the town of Panevezys.

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

22 July 1944 [No. 146]