Order of the Day, July 20, 1944

Order of the Day, addressed to Marshal Rokossovsky, announces that troops of the First Byelorussian Front, passing to the offensive from the area of Kovel, have broken through the strongly fortified German defences, and in three days fighting advanced up to 50 kilometres, widening their breach to 150 kilometres along the front. In the offensive, troops of the front captured more than 400 populated places, including the large townships of Ratno, Maloryta, Lyuboml and Opalin, and reached the Western Bug River. The Order mentions 64 commanders of troops, artillerymen, tankmen, airmen, sappers and signallers whose units and formations have distinguished themselves. A salute of 20 salvoes was fired by 224 Moscow guns.