ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Marshal of the Soviet Union Tolbukhin

The troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, jointly with the troops of the Yugoslav National Liberation Army, as a result of stubborn fighting, have completed the annihilation of the German garrison in the city of Belgrade and today, October 20, liberated the capital of our allied Yugoslavia from the German invaders.

In the battles for the liberation of Belgrade, the following troops distinguished themselves: those of Lieutenant-General Hagen, Major-General Shkodunovich, Major-General Akimenko, Major-General Kravtsov, Major-General Lazarev, Major-General Kozak, Major-General Milyaev, Colonel Mukhamedyarov, Colonel Sagitov, Colonel Salychev, Colonel Kulizhsky, Colonel Sidorenko, Colonel Sychev, Colonel Baldynov; the Yugoslav troops of Lieutenant-General Peko Dapchevich, Lieutenant-General Danilo Lekic, Colonel Djoko Jovanich, Lieutenant-Colonel Milos Shelegovic, Colonel Rade Milojevic, Colonel Vaso Jovanovic, Colonel Rodoslav Jovic, Colonel Marko Perichin; the artillerymen of Colonel-General of Artillery Nedelin, Lieutenant-General of Artillery Voznyuk, Major-General of Artillery Breido, Colonel Danshin, Colonel Gladkov, [Lieutenant-Colonel] Bykovsky, Colonel Solovyev, Lieutenant-Colonel Nechaev, Lieutenant-Colonel Smolkin, Lieutenant-Colonel Makhlin, [Colonel] Leonov, Major Seleznyov, Major Nizkov, Major Rodionov, Major Leonov, Major Kharin, Lieutenant-Colonel Damaev; the tankmen of Lieutenant-General of Tank Forces Sukhoruchkin, Lieutenant-General of Tank Forces Zhdanov, Colonel Sergienko, Colonel Nikitin, [Lieutenant-Colonel] Andrianov, Colonel Zavyalov, Colonel Zhukov, Lieutenant-Colonel Dvorkin, Major Shevkin, Major Katilov; the airmen of Colonel-General of Aviation Sudets, Lieutenant-General of Aviation Tolstikov, Major-General of Aviation Vitruk, Colonel Smirnov, Lieutenant-Colonel Shatilin, Colonel Ivanov; the ships and units of the Danube Military Flotilla of Vice-Admiral Gorshkov, Captain 2nd Rank Derzhavin, Captain-Lieutenant Barbotko, Senior Lieutenant Butvin, Lieutenant-Colonel Yablonsky; the sappers of Colonel-General of Engineer Forces Kotlyar, Colonel Zagrebin, Colonel Ilchenko, Colonel Baburin, Lieutenant-Colonel Gonchar, Engineer-Major Zaytsev, Major Kovalev, Major Zemlyanuhin; the signal troops of Lieutenant-General of Signal Forces Korolev, Colonel Staroletov, Lieutenant-Colonel Koba.

In commemoration of the victory achieved, the formations and units that most distinguished themselves in the battles for the liberation of Belgrade are to be submitted for the award of the title "Belgrade" and for decoration with orders.

Today, October 20, at 22:00 hours, the capital of our Motherland Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, salutes the valiant troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front and the Yugoslav National Liberation Army who liberated the capital of Yugoslavia, Belgrade, with twenty-four artillery salvoes from three hundred and twenty-four guns.

For the excellent combat operations I declare gratitude to the troops under your command who participated in the battles for the liberation of Belgrade.

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

Death to the German invaders!

Supreme Commander-in-Chief

Marshal of the Soviet Union I. STALIN

October 20, 1944 [No. 200]