Today in History, Aug. 16

By The Moscow Times
"Not one step back!" U.S.S.R. stamp, April 1945. G. Savitsky

Seventy-two years ago today, on Aug. 16, 1941, Order No. 270 was issued by the Supreme Command following a series of heavy defeats during World War II. The order stated that any soldier who surrendered of his own accord, or allowed himself to be captured, was to be declared a traitor and executed.

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