ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Army General Meretskov

The troops of the Volkhov Front, having launched their offensive in the Novgorod direction, forced the River Volkhov and the upper reaches of Lake Ilmen, and, having broken through the strongly fortified long-established German defences, today, 20 January, as a result of a skilful outflanking manoeuvre, took by storm the important economic and political centre of the country, the city of Novgorod — a major communications junction and a powerful German defensive strongpoint.

In the breakthrough of the German defences and in the fighting for Novgorod, the troops of Lieutenant-General Korovnikov, Colonel-General Kuznetsov, Major-General Mikulsky, Major-General Artyushenko, Major-General Panin, Major-General Solovyov, Major-General Burakovsky, Major-General Chernyshev, Colonel Rogov, Colonel Ordanovsky, Colonel Kalinovsky, Colonel Belov, Colonel Radygin, Colonel Sebov; the artillerymen of Lieutenant-General of Artillery Degtyarev, Major-General of Artillery Dorofeyev, Colonel Sedash; the tankmen of Major-General of Tank Troops Kononov, Colonel Urvanov, Lieutenant-Colonel Bachakashvili; and the airmen of Lieutenant-General of Aviation Zhuravlev distinguished themselves.

To commemorate the victory won, the formations and units that most distinguished themselves in the fighting shall be awarded the designation "Novgorod" and shall be recommended for decoration with orders.

Today, 20 January, at 20:00 hours, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland salutes the valiant troops of the Volkhov Front who broke through the German defences and captured the city of Novgorod, with twenty artillery salvoes from two hundred and twenty-four guns.

For excellent combat operations I declare my gratitude to all the troops under your command who carried out the breakthrough and took part in the fighting for the city of Novgorod.

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

Death to the German invaders!

Supreme Commander-in-Chief

Marshal of the Soviet Union I. STALIN

20 January 1944 [No. 61]