Order of the Day, February 6, 1944

Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Malinovsky Troops of the Third Ukrainian Front, after engaging the enemy in battles of local importance, broke through the strongly fortified German defences north-east of Krivoi Rog and north-east of Nikopol, and in four days' offensive engagements advanced from 45 to 60 kilometres and widened their breach up to 150 kilometres along the front. In the course of the offensive our troops, having smashed four of the enemy's infantry divisions and three of his tank divisions, captured the town and large railway junction of Apostolovo, west of Nikopol, the railway station of Marganets, east of Nikopol, and over 250 other populated places reaching the lower course of the Dnieper not far from the town of Nikopol.

Thus our troops have cut off the ways of retreat to the west of the German grouping of over five infantry divisions, operating in the Nikopol area. In the fighting, distinction was won by troops commanded by Col.-General Chuykov,Lieut.-General Glagolev, Lieut.-General Sharekhin, Lieut.-General Shlemin, Lieut.-General of Tank Troops Tanashchisin, Maj.-General Glazunov, Lieut.-General Fakanov, Lieut.-General Utvenko, Maj.-General Ruchkin, Maj.-General Kotov and Maj.-General Kuznetsov; artillerymen commanded by Lieut.-General of Artillery Nedelin, Maj.-General of Artillery Pozharsky, Maj.-General of Artillery Ratov and Lieut.- General of Artillery Voznyuk; and airmen commanded by Lieutenant of Aviation Sudets, Mai.-General of Aviation Tolstikov and Maj.-General of Aviation Shevchenko. To commemorate the victory units and formations which distinguished themselves particularly in the fighting will be recommended to bear the names of Apostolovo and Lower Dnieper, and for the award of orders.

To-day, February 6, at 21.00 hours (Moscow time), .the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 salvoes from 224guns our gallant troops which broke through the German defences. For excellent military operations I thank all troops under your command which carried out the breakthrough and took part in the fighting for Apostolovo and on the lower Dnieper.

Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fighting for the freedom and independence of our Motherland! Death to the German invaders!

J. V. Stalin

Marshal of the Soviet Union

Supreme Commander-in-Chief