Declaration of a State of Siege in Moscow and surrounding area
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PROCLAMATION OF THE STATE DEFENSE COMMITTEE No. 813

19 October 1941

It is hereby declared that the defense of the capital is occurring on lines 100-120 kilometers west of Moscow and has been entrusted to the commander in chief of West Front, Army General Comrade Zhukov. The defense of Moscow on its near approaches has been entrusted to the chief of the Moscow garrison, Lieutenant General Comrade Artemev.

For purposes of logistic support of the defense of Moscow and for the fortification of the rear of the forces defending Moscow, and also for purposes of preventing the subversive activities of spies, diversionaries, and other agents of German fascism, the State Defense Committee declares:

1. As of 20 October 1941, a state of siege exists in the city Moscow and surrounding region.

2. Any street movement of individual persons or means of transportation is forbidden from 2400 until 0500 with the exception of means of transportation and persons that have special permission from the commandant of Moscow city. In the event of the declaration of an air alert, the movement of the populace and transportation means should proceed in accordance with regulations approved by the Moscow antiaircraft defense establishment and published in the press.

3. Responsibility for the preservation of the strictest order in the city and surrounding regions is entrusted to the commandant of Moscow city, Major General Comrade Sinilov. For these purposes he has at his disposal the forces of internal security of the NKVD, militia, and volunteer workers' detachments.

4. Violators of public order are quickly to be held responsible by subjection to the judgment of a Military Tribunal, and provocateurs, spies, and other enemy agents who are found to be in violation of public order are to be shot on site.

The State Defense Committee calls upon all workers of the capital to observe order and calm and to render every cooperation to the Red Army, which is defending Moscow.

CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE DEFENSE COMMITTEE
J. STALIN

Moscow, Kremlin
19 October 1941



Translated by:
James F. Gebhardt
Sources:
RTsKhIDNI, collection 644, index 1, item 12, sheets 167-68. True copy.

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