J. V. Stalin
TROOPS of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, with the support of troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, after stiff street-fighting to-day, April 13, captured the capital of Austria, the city of Vienna, a strategically important centre of the German defences covering the routes to the southern areas of Germany.
During the course of the fighting for the approaches to Vienna and for the city of Vienna, from March 16 to April 13, the troops of the Front routed 11 German Tank Divisions, including the 6th S.S. Tank army, took prisoner more than 130,000 enemy officers and men, and destroyed or captured 1,345 tanks and self-propelled guns, 2,250 field-guns and much other military equipment.
In the fighting for the capture of the city of Vienna distinction was won by troops commanded by Col.-Gen. Glagolev, Lieut.-Gen. Zakhvatayev, Lieut.-Gen. Petrushevsky, Lieut.-Gen. Tikhonov, Lieut.-Gen. Utvenko, Lieut.-Gen. Mironov, Lieut.-Gen, Bakhtin, Lieut.-Gen. Rubanyuk, Maj.-Gen. Dereyanko, Maj.-Gen. Rozhdstvensky, Maj.-Gen. Biryukov, Maj.-Gen. Kozak, Maj.-Gen. Bobruk, Maj.-Gen. Shkodunovich, Maj.-Gen. Afonin, Maj.Gen. Tsvetkov, Maj.-Gen. Panchenko, Maj.-Gen. Dznakhua, Maj.Gen. Makarenko, Maj.-Gen., Bogdanov, Maj.-Gen. Denissenko, Maj.-Gen. Afonin, Col. Drychkin, Col. Chizhov, Col. Kuks, Col. Bransburg and Col. Vindushev; Ships and units of the Red Banner Danube Flotilla commanded by Rear-Admiral Kholostyakov, Lieut.-Capt. Barbotko and Lieut.-Capt. Veliki; Artillerymen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Artillery Nedelin, Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Voznyuk, Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Nesteruk, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Tsikalo, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Breshnev, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Gussev, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Ratov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Velikolepov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Alexeyenko, Col. Fedorov, Col. Yeletsky, Col. Slepakov, Col. Borissenko, Col. Pleshakov, Col. Chernov, Col. Prokhotov, Col. Bulakhtik, Col. Leonov, Col. Lupanov, Lieut.Col. Zhkutsky, Maj. Voronov and Maj. Glebov; Tankmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Tank Troops Kravchenko, Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Volkov, Lieut.-Gen. Russyanov, Lieut.-Gen. Sviridov, Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Akhmanov, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Pavelkin, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Stromberg, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Savelyev, Maj.-Gen. Govorunenko, Col. Tyaglov, Col. Budnikov, Col. Rumyantsev, Col. Obdalenkov, Col. Ivanov, Col. Sakharov, Lieut.-Col. Savelyev and Lieut.-Col. Siman; Airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Sudets, Col.-Gen. of Aviation Goryunov, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Zlatotsvetov, Lieut.Gen. of Aviation Tolstikov, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Seleznev, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Stepichev, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Podgorny, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Korsakov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Belitsky, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Tishchenko, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Kamanin, Col. Nedosekin, Col. Dementyev, Col. Smirnov, Col. Ivanov, Col. Terekhov and Lieut.-Col. Shatilin; Sappers commanded by Col.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Kotlyar, Col. Malov, Col. Vodovatov, Col. Fadeyev, Col. Pavlov, Col. Zgrebin, Col. Baburin, Col. Nominas, Lieut.-Col. Korneyev, Lieut.-Col. Matuzas and Lieut.-Col. Galukovich; Signallers commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Signals Troops Korolev, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Morozov, Col. Shervud, Col. Kotkov, Col. Yegorov and Lieut.-Col. Sukhikh.
To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the capture of the city of Vienna will be recommended for conferment of the name “Vienna” and award of Orders.
To-day, April 13, at 21.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 24 artillery salvoes from 324 guns the gallant troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front which captured the city of Vienna.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Vienna.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fighting 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