Stalin's Report

In the bluish dusk the sound of gunfire rolled over Moscow and Leningrad, the Dnieper's ruined cities, Rostov on the distant Don. The salvos were Russia's salute to her army on its 26th anniversary. In the Kremlin, Marshal Joseph Stalin marked the date with a 2,000-word order, fat with the names of battles won, seasoned with pride and confidence, barbed with reference to Russia's "singlehanded" combat, Said Stalin:

> Since the winter offensive began on December 19, the Red Army has recaptured 77,220 sq. miles of territory, 13,000 hamlets and towns, vast areas rich in iron ore and manganese. Three-quarters of Russia's invaded soil has been retaken.

> The Red Army has demolished the formidable Dnieper defense line, broken up Hitler's plan to stabilize the Eastern Front.

> Though Germany has fought on only one front, she has been "driven to the brink of disaster." But "never in history has the enemy himself jumped over the precipice. To win a war it is necessary to bring the opponent to the brink . . . and shove him over. . . . For this it is necessary to continue perfecting the military skill of the men and commanders ... to study enemy tactics constantly and to counter his tactics with more perfect tactics of our own.

"I order: Officers and generals ... to perfect the art of leading troops, reconnaissance and maneuver . . . effect the coordination of all types of troops . . . [introduce] bolder and broader . . . tactics.

"The entire Red Army to break the enemy defenses ... by perfect coordination of fire and maneuver ... to liquidate in good time enemy counterattacks . . . to organize swift pursuit. . . ."

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