ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Marshal of the Soviet Union Govorov

To Admiral Tributs

The troops of the Leningrad Front, with the support of ships of the Baltic Fleet, as a result of stubborn fighting, today, November 24, completed the clearing of the island of Saaremaa (Oesel) from the enemy — an island which the Germans had converted into a strongpoint covering the approaches to the Gulf of Riga.

Thereby the territory of Soviet Estonia has been fully liberated from the German invaders.

In the battles for the capture of the island of Saaremaa, the following distinguished themselves: the troops of Lieutenant-General Starikov, Lieutenant-General Alferov, the Estonian Corps of Lieutenant-General Pern, Major-General Trushkin, Major-General Romanenko, Major-General Romantsov, Major-General Allikas, Colonel Feldman; the sailors of Rear-Admiral Svyatov, Rear-Admiral Kulishov, Rear-Admiral Yurkowsky, Captain 1st Rank Guskov, Captain 1st Rank Oleinik, Captain 2nd Rank Lazo, Captain 3rd Rank Maksimenko, Captain 3rd Rank Sirotinsky, Captain 3rd Rank Reznichenko, Captain 3rd Rank Novozhilov, Colonel Zubov, Major Leibovich; the artillerymen of Major-General of Artillery Brusser, Colonel Berezutsky, Colonel Aru, Colonel Karpachev, Colonel Katunin, Colonel Gorobets, Colonel Potiforov, Colonel Boichuk; the tankmen of Major-General of Tank Forces Zazimko, Lieutenant-Colonel Kuslapu, Lieutenant-Colonel Barylov, Lieutenant-Colonel Chernykh, Colonel Chesnokov, Major Oleinikov, Major Knyazev; the airmen of Colonel-General of Aviation Samokhin, Major-General of Aviation Antonov, Colonel Greskow, Colonel Matveyev, [Major] Mekhannikov, Colonel Koreshkov, Lieutenant-Colonel Usachev, Colonel Kurochkin, Colonel Manzhosov, Lieutenant-Colonel Slepenkov; the sappers of Colonel Akatov, Lieutenant-Colonel Afanasyev, Major Yermilov, Major Shelikhov, Lieutenant-Colonel Gultyaev, Lieutenant-Colonel Gulyanitsky, Lieutenant-Colonel Solomakhin; the signal troops of Colonel Muzhev.

In commemoration of the victory achieved, the formations, units and ships that most distinguished themselves in the battles for the capture of the island of Saaremaa are to be submitted for decoration with orders.

Today, November 24, at 21:00 hours, the capital of our Motherland Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, salutes the valiant troops of the Leningrad Front, including the Estonian Corps of Lieutenant-General Pern, and the sailors of the Baltic Fleet who captured the island of Saaremaa, with twenty artillery salvoes from two hundred and twenty-four guns.

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

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

November 24, 1944 [No. 210]