Order of the Day, April 17, 1944

Issued by Marshal Stalin

Today, April 17, at 18.00 hours, the funeral of Array General Vatutin, Commander of the First Ukrainian Front, will take place in the town of Kiev. The Army and Fleet of the Soviet Union lower their military banners before the grave of Vatutin, and render homage to one of the finest generals of the Red Army.

I order: At the hour of his interment Army General Vatutin shall be given his last military honour and, in the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, there will be a salute of 24 artillery salvoes from 24 guns.

J. Stalin

Marshal of the Soviet Union

Supreme Commander-in-Chief