J. V. Stalin
TROOPS of the Third Byelorussian Front to-day, July 13, as a result of five days’ fighting, liquidated the German garrison encircled in the town of Vilnius and liberated the capital of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic from the Fascist invaders.
In the fighting for the liberation of Vilnius distinction was won by troops under Lieut.-Gen. Krylov, Maj.-Gen. Kazartsev, Maj.-Gen. Perekrestov, Maj.-Gen. Poplavsky, Maj.-Gen. Gladyshev, Maj.-Gen. Laskin, Maj.-Gen. Kazaryan, Col. Donets, Maj.-Gen. Kalinin, Maj.Gen. Alexeyenko, Col. Zhekov-Bogatyrev, Col. Babayan and Maj.-Gen. Gorodovikov; Artillerymen under Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Barsukov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Fedorov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Vladimirov, Col. Baryshev, Col. Rakhmanov, Col. Chernet, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Yudichev, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Rozhanovitch, Col. Gatsko, Col. Sedov, Lieut.-Col. Tikhomirov, Maj. Gazhva, Lieut.-Col. Litvinov, Lieut.-Col. Kozlov, Maj. Ryzhikov, Maj. Usov, Lieut.-Col. Nikitin, Lieut.-Col. Naumenko, Maj. Kolupayev, Maj. Sharkov and Col. Mezhinsky.; Tankmen under Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Obukhov, Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Rodin, Col. Rodionov, Col. Kremer, Col. Sokolov, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Aslanov, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Solovoy, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Vovchenko, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Fominykh, Col. Kritsenko, Lieut.-Col. Yesipenko, Col. Dolganov, Lieut.-Col. Molchanov, Lieut.-Col. Kurnosov, Lieut.-Col. Mishchenko, Lieut.-Col. Dyachuk, Col. Krutiy, Lieut.-Col. Solter, Maj. Borshchenko and Lieut.-Col. Nemkovich; Airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Khryukin, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Beletsky, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Savitsky, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Andreyev, Col. Savin, Lieut.-Col. Gorbatyuk, Lieut.-Col. Orlov, Lieut.-Col. Doroshenko, Lieut.-Col. Zaitsev, Col. Chuchev, Maj. Katkov, Col. Vasiliev, Col. Chumachenko and Col. Rodin; Sappers conunanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Baranov, Col. Molchanov, Maj. Rabinovich, Col. Yusupov and Col. Lukashenko; Signallers commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Signal Troops Burov, Col. Prikhoday, Lieut.-Col. Belov, Col. Minin, Col. Tkachenko, Maj. Tarasenko, Maj. Semenov and Maj. Sukhinin.
To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Vilnius will be recommended for conferment of the name “Vilnius” and for award of Orders.
To-day, July 13, at 23.30 hours (Moscow time) the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 24 salvoes from 324 guns our gallant troops of the Third Byelorussian Front which captured the capital of Soviet Lithuania, Vilnius.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Vilnius.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. Stalin
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Moscow