Order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, December 3, 1944 [No. 216]

ORDER

SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To the Commander of the Forces

2nd Ukrainian Front

Marshal of the Soviet Union Malinovsky

To the Chief of Staff of the Front

Colonel-General Zakharov

Troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, as a result of stubborn fighting today, December 3, captured by storm the major communications hub and powerful strongpoint of the enemy’s defense, the city of Miskolc – a most important center of military production in Hungary, supplying the German and Hungarian armies.

In the battles for the capture of the city of Miskolc, the following troops distinguished themselves: Colonel-General Trofimenko, Lieutenant-General Zhmachenko, Major-General [of the Signal Corps] Bragin, Lieutenant-General Sharapov, Major-General Rumyantsev, Lieutenant-General Petrushevsky, Major-General Semenov, Lieutenant-General Goryachev, Major-General Merkulov, Colonel Sazhin, Colonel Tsalai, Major-General Karlov, Colonel Gorobets, Colonel Eremin, Major-General Mikhailov, Colonel Khokhlov, Major-General Umansky, Colonel Bochkov, Major-General Timoshkov, Lieutenant-Colonel Savelyev, Lieutenant-Colonel Mamedov; artillerymen of Colonel-General of Artillery Fomin, Major-General of Artillery Shmakov, Major-General of Artillery Lebedev, Major-General of Artillery Popovich; tankmen of Colonel-General of Tank Troops Kurkin; airmen of Colonel-General of Aviation Goryunov, Lieutenant-General of Aviation Seleznev, Major-General of Aviation Kamanin, Lieutenant-General of Aviation Stepichev; sappers of Lieutenant-General of Engineer Troops Tsirlin, Colonel Ponimash, Major-General of Engineer Troops Petrov, Colonel Pavlenko, Colonel Budarin; signalmen of Lieutenant-General of the Signal Corps Leonov, Colonel Agafonov, Colonel Gorelkin, Colonel of State Security Karpov.

In commemoration of the victory achieved, the formations and units that most distinguished themselves in the battles for the capture of the city of Miskolc shall be recommended for the conferment of the designation “Miskolc” and for the awarding of orders.

Today, December 3, at 21:30, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, salutes the valiant troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, who captured the city of Miskolc, with twenty artillery salvos from two hundred twenty-four guns.

For excellent combat actions, I express gratitude to the troops under your command who participated in the battles for the capture of the city of Miskolc.

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

December 3, 1944 [No. 216]