J. V. Stalin
Source: Works, Vol. 15
Publisher: Red Star Press Ltd., London, 1984
Transcription/HTML Markup: Salil Sen for MIA, 2009
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2009). You may freely copy,
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Our troops of the Leningrad front, having gone over to the offensive from the areas of Pulkovo and south of Oranienbaum, have broken through heavily fortified permanent German defences of great depth, and in five days of stubborn fighting have advanced in all directions from 12 to 20 kilometres and widened the breakthrough on every sector of the offensive up to 35 to 40 kilometres along the front.
As a result of the breakthrough, troops of this front on January 19 captured by storm the town of Krasnoye Selo, which had been transformed by the Germans into a fortress as well as Ropsha, a powerful strongpoint in the enemy defences and an important road junction.
In the course of the offensive our troops inflicted a serious defeat on seven German infantry divisions, and captured a large group of enemy heavy artillery which has systematically shelled the city of Leningrad.
In the breakthrough of the German defences and in the fighting for Krasnoye and Ropsha, distinction was won by troops commanded by Col.-General Maslennikov, Lieut.-General Fediun-insky, Maj.-General Simonyak, Maj.-General Andreyev, Maj.-General Fadeyev and Colonel Romanenko, artillerymen commanded by Maj.-General of Artillery Mikhalkin and Maj.-General of Artillery Chernyavsky, tankmen commanded by Colonel Zhukov, and airmen commanded by Air Marshal Golovanov, Lieut.-General of Aviation Rybalchenko, and Lieut.-General of Aviation Samokhin.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting will bear the name of "Krasnoye Selo" and "Ropsha", and are recommended for the award of Orders.
To-day, January 19, at 21 hours (Moscow time) the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns the gallant troops of the Leningrad front which broke through the German defences and captured the towns of Krasnoye Selo and Ropsha.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which carried out the breakthrough and took part in the fighting for the towns of Krasnoye Selo and Ropsha.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!
Death to the German invaders!
J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief