Order of the Day, March 10, 1944

Issued by Marshal Stalin and addressed to Marshal of the Soviet Union Koniev

Troops of the Second Ukrainian Front, having resumed their offensive have broken through the strong German defences in the Uman direction, and in five days of offensive engagements advanced from 40 - 70 kilometres, and widened the breach to 175 kilometres along the front. As a result of the operation carried out by the troops of the Front, they have captured the town of Uman, the town and important railway junction of Khristinovka, Talnoye, Buki, Mankovka, Babanka and Ekaterinopol, district centres of the Kiev Region, Monastyrishche, district centre of the Vinnitsa Region, and more than 300 other populated places.

In the course of the offensive our troops inflicted a heavy defeat on six German tank divisions, seven infantry divisions and one artillery division, and captured more than 500 tanks .and self-propelled guns, of which more than 200 are "Tigers," "Panthers" and "Ferdinands" in full working order, about 600 field guns of various calibres, and more than 12,000 lorries.

In the fighting distinction was won by tankmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Bogdanov, Lieut.- Gen. of Tank Troops Kravchenko and Marshal of Armoured Tank Troops Rotmistrov, troopscommanded by Lieut.-Gen. Trofimenko, Lieut.-Gen. Koroteyev, Lieut.- Gen. Zhmachenko and Lieut.-Gen. Calanin, artillerymen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Fomin, Maj.-Gen of Artillery Lebedev, Maj.-Gen of Artillery Gusarov, and airmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Coryunov. ieut.-Gen. Koroteyev, Lieut.-Gen. Zhmachenko and Lieut.- Gen. Galanin, artillerymen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Fomin, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Lebedev, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Faustov and Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Gusarov, and airmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Goryunov.

To commemorate the victory, the units and formations which particularly distiguished themselves in the fighting shall be recommended to have the name of Uman conferred on them and to be awarded orders.

Today, March 10, at 21.00 hours (Moscow time), the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, will in the name of the Motherland salute with 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns our gallant troops of the Second Ukrainian Front which broke through the German defences and routed the Uman- Khristinovka German grouping.

For the excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your, command which made the breakthrough and routed the Uman-Khristinovka German grouping. 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