Order of the Day, February 8, 1944

Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army General Tolbukhin Troops of the Fourth Ukrainian Front, having broken through the Germans' heavily fortified defences at their bridgehead south of Nikopol on the left bank of the Dnieper, in four days' offensive engagements inflicted a heavy defeat on seven enemy infantry divisions and reached the River Dnieper along the whole length of the bridgehead.

As a result of this operation our troops have completely liquidated the operationally important German bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnieper along a front of 120 kilometres and 35 kilometres in depth. In the course of the offensive our troops captured the town of Kamenka, district centre of the Zaporozhye Region, and over 40 other populated places.

In the fighting to liquidate the Nikopol bridgehead, particular distinction was won by the troops under Col.- General Tsvetayev, Lieut.-General Lelyushenko. Maj.- General Zherebin, Maj.-General Belov, Maj.-General Gorokhov, and Colonel Vladychansky; artillerymen under Lieut.-General of Artillery Krasnopevtsev; tankmen under Lieut.-General of Tank Troops Sviridov and Colonel Korbut; and airmen under Lieut.-General of Aviation Khryukin, Maj.-General of Aviation Savitsky, Maj.-General of Aviation Filih, Maj.-General of Aviation Kuznet-sov and Colonel Prutkov.

To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which distinguished themselves in the fighting will be recommended to bear the name of Nikopol and to be presented with awards.

To-day, February 8, at 20 O'clock (Moscow time), the capital of the Motherland, Moscow, in .the name of the Motherland, will salute with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns our gallant troops of the Fourth Ukrainian Front which captured the important enemy bridgehead. For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liquidation of the Germans' Nikopol bridgehead.

Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle 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