Order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
August 23, 1944
[No. 171]

ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Army General Tolbukhin

The troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, continuing their offensive, today, August 23, captured by storm the towns of Bendery and Belgorod-Dnestrovsky (Akkerman) — important strongpoints of the enemy defences on the lower Dniester.

The following distinguished themselves in the fighting:

for the capture of the town of Bendery — the troops of Lieutenant General Gagen, Major General Shkodunovich, Major General Kruze; the artillerymen of Major General of Artillery Balayev, Colonel Kovalev; the airmen of Colonel General of Aviation Sudets;

for the capture of the town of Belgorod-Dnestrovsky (Akkerman) — the troops of Lieutenant General Shlemin, Lieutenant General Bakhtin, Colonel Nikitin, Colonel Vlasov, [Colonel] Smirnov; the artillerymen of Major General of Artillery Alekseyenko; the airmen of Lieutenant General of Aviation Yermachenkov; the sailors of Rear Admiral Gorshkov, Captain 2nd Rank Davydov, Major Grigoryev; the sappers of Colonel General of Engineering Troops Kotlyar, Colonel Nominas, Colonel Puzurevsky.

In commemoration of the victory achieved, the formations and units which most distinguished themselves in the fighting for the capture of the towns of Bendery and Belgorod-Dnestrovsky are to be recommended for award of orders.

Today, August 23, at 23:00 hours, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland salutes the valiant troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front which captured the towns of Bendery and Belgorod-Dnestrovsky with twelve artillery salvoes from one hundred and twenty-four guns.

For excellent military operations I express my gratitude to all the troops under your command who took part in the fighting for the liberation of Bendery and Belgorod-Dnestrovsky.

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

August 23, 1944 [No. 171]