ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Army General Meretskov

The troops of the Karelian Front, pursuing the German forces, crossed the state frontier of Norway and under the difficult conditions of the Arctic today, October 25, captured the city of Kirkenes — an important port on the Barents Sea.

In the battles for the capture of the city of Kirkenes, the following distinguished themselves: the troops of Lieutenant-General Shcherbakov, Major-General Absalyamov, Major-General Mikulsky, Major-General Korotkov, Major-General Zhukov, Colonel Solovyev, Colonel Grebenkin, Major-General Panin, Colonel Kaverin, Colonel Koshchienko, Colonel Lysenko, Colonel Kalinovsky, Major-General Khudalov, Colonel Blak, Colonel Amvrosov, Major-General Sopenko, Colonel Startsev, Colonel Nikandrov, Lieutenant-Colonel Evmenov, Colonel Krylov, Colonel Rassohin, Lieutenant-Colonel Tsypyshev, Lieutenant-Colonel Pidust, Major Pasko, Lieutenant-Colonel Lazarev, Lieutenant-Colonel Chernetsky, Lieutenant-Colonel Povarenko, Lieutenant-Colonel Kopyl; the sailors of Captain 1st Rank Kuzmin, Captain 1st Rank Klevensky, Captain 2nd Rank Korshunovich, Captain 3rd Rank Zyuzin; the artillerymen of Lieutenant-General of Artillery Degtyarev, Major-General of Artillery Panitkina, Colonel Yaroslavtsev, [Lieutenant-Colonel] Grigoryev, Colonel Bandyukevich, Colonel Manyakin, Colonel Likhuta, Colonel Khramov, Lieutenant-Colonel Goltykhov, Lieutenant-Colonel Fetisov, Lieutenant-Colonel Yeresko, Lieutenant-Colonel Shapiro, Lieutenant-Colonel Shepel, Lieutenant-Colonel Zubarev, Lieutenant-Colonel Krivoshei, Major Golubev, Major Yedemekoy, Major Vakurov; the tankmen of Lieutenant-General of Tank Forces Kononov, Colonel Sokolov, Colonel Yurenkov, Lieutenant-Colonel Suchkov, Lieutenant-Colonel Leshchenko, [Major] Korshunov, Lieutenant-Colonel Terentiev, Lieutenant-Colonel Torchilin, Lieutenant-Colonel Arshinevsky; the airmen of Lieutenant-General of Aviation Sokolov, Major-General of Aviation Preobrazhensky, Colonel Udonin, Colonel Laryushkin, Colonel Finogenov, Colonel Kalugin, Colonel Minaev, Colonel Pushkarev; the sappers of Lieutenant-General of Engineer Forces Khrenov, Colonel Leichik, Colonel Arshba, Lieutenant-Colonel Zakharov; the signal troops of Lieutenant-General of Signal Forces Dobykin, Colonel Yekimov, Major of State Security Gavrilov.

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

Today, October 25, at 22:00 hours, the capital of our Motherland Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, salutes the valiant troops of the Karelian Front who captured the city of Kirkenes with twenty artillery salvoes from two 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 capture of the city of Kirkenes.

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

October 25, 1944 [No. 205]