Order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
22 February 1944
[No. 76]

ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Army General Malinovsky

Troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, as a result of an offensive operation, today, 22 February, seized by storm the town of Krivoi Rog and the area of the Krivoi Rog mines — a large industrial centre of Ukraine and an important strongpoint of the German defence.

In the fighting for the capture of the town of Krivoi Rog, distinction was won by the troops of Lieutenant-General Glagolev, Lieutenant-General Sharokhin, Major-General Kotov, Major-General Kosobutsky, Major-General Kuznetsov, artillerymen of Lieutenant-General of Artillery Nedelin, Major-General of Artillery Alexeyenko, Major-General of Artillery Khitrovsky, Lieutenant-General of Artillery Voznyuk, and airmen of Lieutenant-General of Aviation Sudets and Major-General of Aviation Tolstikov.

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

Today, 22 February, at 22:00 hours the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, salutes the valiant troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front who captured the town of Krivoi Rog with twenty artillery salvoes from two hundred and twenty-four guns.

For excellent military operations I express my gratitude to all troops under your command who took part in the fighting for the liberation of the town of Krivoi Rog.

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

22 February 1944 [No. 76]