Order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
9 March 1944
[No. 80]

ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Army General Malinovsky

The troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, having gone over to the offensive, forced the River Ingulets, broke through the strong German defences along the western bank of the river, and in four days of offensive engagements advanced from 30 to 60 kilometres, widening the breakthrough to 170 kilometres along the front.

In the course of the offensive our troops inflicted a heavy defeat on three German tank divisions and six infantry divisions, captured the district centres of Nikolayev Region — Novy Bug and Kazanka — occupied more than 200 other populated places, and cut the Dolinskaya–Nikolayev railway line.

Distinction in the fighting was won by the troops of Colonel-General Chuykov and Lieutenant-General Glagolev; the cavalry of Lieutenant-General Pliyev; the tankmen of Lieutenant-General of Tank Troops Tanaschchishin and Lieutenant-General of Tank Troops Pushkin; the troops of Major-General Morozov, Major-General Kravtsov, Major-General Glazunov, Major-General Kotov, Major-General Ruchkin, and Major-General Kosobutsky; the artillerymen of Lieutenant-General of Artillery Nedelin, Major-General of Artillery Pozharsky, and Major-General of Artillery Alekseyenko; the airmen of Lieutenant-General of Aviation Sudets; and the pontoon troops of Lieutenant-General of Engineering Troops Kotlyar.

To commemorate the victory achieved, the formations and units that distinguished themselves most in the fighting shall be recommended for conferment of the designation "Novobuzhsky" and for award of orders.

Today, 9 March, at 21.00 hours, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland, will salute the valiant troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, which broke through the German defences, with twenty artillery salvoes from two hundred and twenty-four guns.

For excellent combat operations I express my gratitude to all the troops under your command who took part in the breaking-through of the German defences.

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

Death to the German invaders!

Supreme Commander-in-Chief

Marshal of the Soviet Union I. STALIN

9 March 1944 [No. 80]