ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Army General Chernyakhovsky

The troops of the 3rd Belorussian Front, having gone over to the offensive, with the support of massed artillery and air strikes, broke through the permanent, deeply echeloned German defences covering the borders of East Prussia and invaded the territory of East Prussia to a depth of 30 kilometres and along a front of 140 kilometres.

In the course of the offensive, the troops of the front captured the powerful strongpoints of the enemy's defences — Schirwindt, Naumestis (Vladislavov), Villunen, Virbalis (Verzhbolovo), Kybartai (Kibarty), Eydtkuhnen, Stalluponen, Milluhnen, Walterkehmen, Pilluponen, Vishtynets, Melkemen, Rominten, Gross Rominten, Vizhainy, Schittkemen, Przherosle, Goldap, Filipuv, Suvalki, and in fighting seized approximately 900 other populated places, of which more than 400 are on the territory of East Prussia.

In the battles for the breakthrough of the German defences, the following distinguished themselves: the troops of Colonel-General Galitsky, Colonel-General Glagolev, Lieutenant-General Shafranov, Colonel-General Krylov, Lieutenant-General Lyudnikov, Major-General Perekrestov, Lieutenant-General Koshevoy, Major-General Guryev, Major-General Kazartsev, Lieutenant-General Bezugly, Major-General Perkhorovich, Major-General Ryzhikov, Major-General Provalov, Major-General Ivanov, Major-General Oleshev, Lieutenant-General Zavadovsky, Major-General Laskin, Colonel Donets, Major-General Maslov, Major-General Tsyganov, Major-General Burmakov, Major-General Alekseyenko, Major-General Gorodovikov, Major-General Pronin, Major-General Isakov, Major-General Peters, Major-General Gladyshev, Colonel Tolstikov, Colonel Volkov, Colonel Katyushin, Colonel Kovtunov, Major-General Berestov, Colonel Levin, Major-General Polevik, Colonel Klimakhin, Major-General Kvashnin, Major-General Usachev, Major-General Popov, Colonel Basanets, Colonel Bibikov, Colonel Kozhanov, Colonel Klets, Major-General Kazaryan, Major-General Kalinin, Colonel Tsukarev, Colonel Demin, Colonel Rutko, Major-General Chernov; the artillerymen of Colonel-General of Artillery Barsukov, Lieutenant-General of Artillery Nilovsky, Lieutenant-General of Artillery Semyonov, Major-General of Artillery Fyodorov, Major-General of Artillery Deresh, Major-General of Artillery Semin, Lieutenant-General of Artillery Salichko, Major-General of Artillery Yakovlev, Major-General of Artillery Popov, Major-General of Artillery Karsanov, Colonel Kuznetsov, Colonel Struev, Colonel Sedov, Colonel Popov, Major-General of Artillery Kolotilov, Major-General of Artillery Sazonov, Colonel Kulikov, Colonel Shulga, Colonel Stepantsov, Colonel Muzychenko, Major-General of Artillery Sadovnichy, Colonel Fedotov, Colonel Sokolov, Colonel Lukyanov, Colonel Pilipenko, Lieutenant-Colonel Kotlyarevsky, Lieutenant-Colonel Terekhin, Lieutenant-Colonel Maltsev, Lieutenant-Colonel Osipchuk, Major Shtefan, [Lieutenant-Colonel] Vyborov; the tankmen of Colonel-General of Tank Forces Rodin, Major-General of Tank Forces Burdeyny, Colonel Semenyuk, Colonel Burlyga, Colonel Tsinchenko, Colonel Losik, Colonel Bulygin, Lieutenant-Colonel Antipin, Lieutenant-Colonel Shanin, Colonel Dukhovny, Colonel Bukov, Lieutenant-Colonel Timofeyev, Lieutenant-Colonel Burmistrov; the airmen of Colonel-General of Aviation Khryukin, Colonel Prutkov, Lieutenant-Colonel Karyakin, Colonel Khatminsky, Major-General of Aviation Nechiporenko, Colonel Chuchev, Major-General of Aviation Molokov, Major-General of Aviation Shevchenko, Colonel Zimin, Major-General of Aviation Zakharov, Colonel Yegorov, Lieutenant-Colonel Rodin, Lieutenant-Colonel Pilshchikov, [Colonel] Puyada, Major Karazeyev; the sappers of Lieutenant-General of Engineer Forces Baranov, Colonel Leiman, Major-General of Engineer Forces Zverev, Major-General of Engineer Forces Gnedovsky, Major-General of Engineer Forces Maryin, Colonel Lukashenko, Colonel Sokolov, Lieutenant-Colonel Poplavsky, Colonel Vorontsov, Colonel Balandin, Colonel Zheleznykh, Colonel Parkhomchuk, Colonel Khmyrov, Colonel Sveshnikov, Colonel Nemirovsky; the signal troops of Major-General of Signal Forces Burov, Major-General of Signal Forces Sorokin, Major-General of Aviation Ptitsyn, Colonel Davidenko, Major Kozhevnikov, Lieutenant-Colonel Loginov, Colonel Prikhodai, Major Tarasenko, Lieutenant-Colonel Ovechkin, Colonel Belyshev, Lieutenant-Colonel Kasyanov.

In commemoration of the victory achieved, the formations and units that most distinguished themselves in the battles for the breakthrough of the German defences and the invasion of East Prussia are to be submitted for decoration with orders.

Today, October 23, at 23:00 hours, the capital of our Motherland Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, salutes the valiant troops of the 3rd Belorussian Front who broke through the German defences and invaded East Prussia 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 breakthrough of the German defences and the invasion of East Prussia.

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 23, 1944 [No. 203]