Order of the Day of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
28 March 1944
[No. 96]

ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Army General Malinovsky

The troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front today, 28 March, after stubborn fighting, captured by storm the large regional and industrial centre of Ukraine, the city of Nikolayev — an important railway junction, one of the largest ports on the Black Sea, and a powerful strongpoint of the German defences at the mouth of the Southern Bug.

In the fighting for the capture of the city of Nikolayev, distinction was won by the troops of Colonel-General Tsvetayev, Lieutenant-General Grechkin, Lieutenant-General Shlemin, Major-General Belov, Major-General Gorokhov, Major-General Rubanyuk, Colonel Margelov, Colonel Dorofeyev; the tankmen of Lieutenant-General of Tank Troops Sviridov; the artillerymen of Lieutenant-General of Artillery Nedelin, Major-General of Artillery Osmolovsky, Colonel Solovyev, Colonel Nikitin, Lieutenant-Colonel Popov; the airmen of Colonel-General of Aviation Sudets; the sappers of Colonel-General of Engineer Troops Kotlyar; and the sailors of Major Kotanov.

In commemoration of the victory achieved, the formations and units that distinguished themselves most in the fighting for the liberation of the city of Nikolayev shall be recommended for conferment of the designation "Nikolayev" and for award of orders.

Today, 28 March, at 22:00 hours, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, will salute the valiant troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, who captured the city of Nikolayev, with twenty artillery salvoes from two hundred and twenty-four guns.

For excellent combat operations I declare my gratitude to all the troops under your command who took part in the fighting for the liberation of the city of Nikolayev.

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

Death to the German invaders!

Supreme Commander-in-Chief

Marshal of the Soviet Union I. STALIN

28 March 1944 [No. 96]