Order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
18 February 1944
[No. 75]

ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Army General Konev

Troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, as a result of fierce fighting that continued without interruption for fourteen days, on 17 February completed the operation for the annihilation of ten divisions and one brigade of the 8th German Army encircled in the area of Korsun-Shevchenkovsky.

In the course of this operation the Germans left 52,000 dead on the field of battle. 11,000 German soldiers and officers surrendered as prisoners.

All equipment and armament in the enemy's possession has been captured by our troops.

In the fighting, distinction was won by the troops of Lieutenant-General Trofimenko, Lieutenant-General Smirnov, Lieutenant-General Koroteyev, cavalrymen of Lieutenant-General Selivanov, tankmen of Colonel-General of Tank Troops Rotmistrov, Major-General of Tank Troops Kirichenko, Major-General of Tank Troops Polozkov, and airmen of Lieutenant-General of Aviation Goryunov.

In commemoration of the victory achieved, the formations and units that particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting are to be submitted for the award of the honorific title "Korsun" and for the award of orders.

Today, 18 February, at 1:00 hour the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, salutes the valiant troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front who completed the annihilation of the encircled German forces with twenty artillery salvoes from two hundred and twenty-four guns.

For excellent military operations I express my gratitude to all troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front who took part in the fighting at Korsun, and also personally to Army General Konev, who directed the operation for the liquidation of the encircled German troops.

Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!

Death to the German invaders!

Supreme Commander-in-Chief

Marshal of the Soviet Union I. STALIN

18 February 1944 [No. 75]