Order of the Day, May 10, 1944

Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Vassilevsky and Army General Tolbukhin Troops of the Fourth Ukrainian Front, supported by massed blows by aircraft and artillery, as a result of three days offensive fighting, broke through the heavily fortified zone of permanent German defences consisting of three lines of ferro-concrete defence works and, a few hours ago, captured by storm the fortress and most important naval base on the Black Sea - the town of Sevastopol. Thus the last centre of resistance of the Germans in the Crimea has been eliminated and the Crimea is completely cleared of the German-fascist invaders.

In the fighting for Sevastopol, distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Zakharov, Lieut.-Gen. Kreizer, Lieut.-Gen. Melnik, Lieut.-Gen. Chanchibadze, Lieut.-Gen. Kolomiets, Maj.-Gen. Lovyagin, Lieut.-Gen. Missan, Maj.-Gen. Neverov, Maj.-Gen. Koshevoi, Maj.- Gen.

Provalov, Maj.-Gen. Luchinsky and Maj.-

Gen. Rozhdestvensky; artillerymen commanded by Col.- Gen. of Artillery Krasnopevtsev, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Strelbitsky, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Telegin, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Sokolsky, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Tveretsky, Col. obsev and Col. Frolov; tankmen commanded by l. Potseluyev, Col. Barabash and Col. Zhidkov; airmen commanded by Marshal of Aviation Golovanov, Lieut.- Gen. of Aviation Khryukin, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Savitsky, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Filin, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Yermachenkov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Fedorov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Rubanov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Kuznets-ov, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Tupikov, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Loginov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Volkov, Maj.- Gen. of Aviation Shchetnikov, Col. Prutkov, Col. Getman, Col. Chuchchev, Col. Geivo, Col. Volkov, Lieut.-Col. Konarev, Col. Korzunov, Lieut.-Col. Manzhosov, Lieut.- Col. Rozhdestvensky and Lieut.-Col. Lyubimov; seamen under Adml. Oktyabrsky, Rear-Adml. Bol-tunov, Capt. of the First Rank Solovyev, Capt. Filippov, Capt. of the Second Rank Protsenko and Capt. of the Second Rank Dyachenko; sappers commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Kolesnikov, Col. Pavlov and Col. Koryavko, and signallers under Lieut.-Gen. of Signals Troops Korolev.

To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of Sevastopol will be recommended for conferment of the name Sevastopol and for award of orders. Today, May 10, at 1 hour (Moscow time), the capital of the Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute with 24 artillery salvoes from 324 guns our gallant troops of the Fourth Ukrainian Front which captured the town of Sevastopol.

For excellent military operations I expres: my thanks to all troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Sevastopol. 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