Order of the Day, March 28, 1944

Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Army Gen. Malinovsky

Troops of the Third Ukrainian Front today, March 28, after stubborn fighting, captured by storm the large regional and industrial centre of the Ukraine, the town of Nikolayev – an important railway junction, one of the largest ports on the Black Sea and a powerful strongpoint of the German defences at the mouth of the Southern Bug river. In the fighting for the capture of the town, of Nikolayev, distinction was won by troops commanded by Col.- Gen.

Tsvetayev, Lieut.-Gen. Grechkin, Lieut.-Gen.

Shlemin, Maj.-Gen. Belov, Maj.-Gen. Gorokhov, Maj.- Gen. Rubanyuk, Col. Margelov and Col. Dorofeyev; tankmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Sviridov; artillerymen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Nedelin, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Omolovsky, Col. Solovyev, Col. Nikitin and Lieut.-Col. Popov; airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Sudets; sappers commanded by Col.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Kotlyar, and marines under Maj. Kotanov.

To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Nikolayev will be recommended to bear the name of Nikolayev and to be awarded orders.

Today, March 28, at 22.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the Third Ukrainian Front which captured the town of Nikolayev.

For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Nikolayev. Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland! Death to the German invaders!

J. Stalin

Marshal of the Soviet Union

Supreme Commander-in-Chief