Order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
8 February 1944
[No. 71]

ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

To Army General Tolbukhin

Troops of the 4th Ukrainian Front, having pierced the strongly fortified German defence at their bridgehead south of the town of Nikopol on the left bank of the Dnieper, over four days of offensive fighting inflicted a heavy defeat on seven infantry divisions of the enemy and reached the River Dnieper along the entire extent of the bridgehead.

As a result of this operation our troops completely liquidated the operationally important German bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnieper, 120 kilometres in extent along the front and 35 kilometres in depth.

In the course of the offensive our troops captured the district centre of Zaporozhye Region — the town of Kamenka — and seized more than 40 other populated places.

In the fighting for the liquidation of the German Nikopol bridgehead, distinction was won by the troops of Colonel-General Tsvetayev, Lieutenant-General Lelyushenko, Major-General Zherebin, Major-General Belov, Major-General Gorokhov, Colonel Vladychansky, artillerymen of Lieutenant-General of Artillery Krasnopevtsev, tankmen of Lieutenant-General of Tank Troops Sviridov, Colonel Korbut, and airmen of Lieutenant-General of Aviation Khryukin, Major-General of Aviation Savitsky, Major-General of Aviation Filin, Major-General of Aviation Kuznetsov, and Colonel Prutkov.

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

Today, 8 February, at 20:00 hours the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, salutes the valiant troops of the 4th Ukrainian Front who captured the important enemy bridgehead with twelve artillery salvoes from one 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 liquidation of the German Nikopol bridgehead.

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

8 February 1944 [No. 71]