In the course of February 23, southwest of KONIGSBERG, our troops continued fighting to eliminate the enemy’s Eastern-Prussian group, and closing the encirclement, seized the settlements of ARNSTEIN, LICHTENFELD, LILIENTHAL, TOLKSDORF, LIEBENAU, SCHALMAY. Fighting in this area on February 22, our troops took over 500 Nazi men and officers prisoner.

In POMERANIA, our troops, crushing enemy resistance, seized the town and railway junction of ARNSWALDE.

After a month-long siege and stubborn battles, the troops of the 1st BELARUSSIAN Front completed the rout of the encircled group of the enemy and on February 23 seized the city and fortress of POZNAN, a strategic enemy defensive point on the way to Berlin.

During the fighting in POZNAN, the troops the Front took 23,000 Nazi men and officers led by fortress commandant Maj. Gen. MATTERN prisoner, capturing the following trophies: 365 aircraft, 32 tanks and self-propelled guns, 584 guns, 177 mortars, 4,490 machineguns, over 30,000 rifles and submachine-guns, 36 armored personnel carriers, 3,260 motor vehicles, 400 motorcycles, 21 radio stations, 193 locomotives, 3,705 railway cars, 990 horses. The enemy lost over 25,000 men and officers killed.

In the area of BRESLAU, our troops, continuing to fight to eliminate the enemy’s garrison encircled in the town, seized the suburbs PAPPELHOF, GROSS RAAKE, KLEIN RAAKE, KLEIN BISCHWITZ, KLEIN MASSELWITZ and 20 blocks in the southern part of the city. Fighting in this area on February 22, our troops took captured 130 German guns, including 80 high-power guns.

Reconnaissance raids and local fighting in a number of areas were reported on the other sections of the front.

On February 22, 105 German tanks and self-propelled guns were disabled and destroyed on all fronts. A total of 14 enemy aircraft were brought down in aerial combat or by anti-aircraft guns.