Order of the Day, No. 346, April 27, 1945

To the Army on Active Service

The troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front and our Allied British and American troops, striking from the East and West, severed the front of the German troops, and on April 25, at 13.30 hours, effected a junction in the middle of Germany, in the region of Torgau. As a result, the German troops located in North Germany have been cut off from the German troops in the southern regions of Germany.

To mark this victory, and in honour of this historic event, today, April 27, at 19.00 hours, the capital of our country, Moscow, will, on behalf of our country, salute the valiant troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front and our Allied British and American troops with 24 artillery salvoes, fired from 324 guns.

Long live the victory of the freedom-loving nations over Germany.

J. Stalin

Supreme Commander-in-Chief

Marshal of the Soviet Union.

("Soviet Calendar 1917 - 1947")