Order of the Day, No. 368,

May 9, 1945

Addressed to the Commander of the Troops of the

1st Ukrainian Front, Marshal Koniev, and to the Chief of Staff of the Front, Army-Gen. Petrov

Troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front, as a result of a vigorous night manoeuvre by tank formations and infantry, crushed the enemy’s resistance and to-day May 9, liberated from the German invaders the capital of our Ally, Czechoslovakia, Prague.

In the fighting for the liberation of Prague distinction was won by troops commanded by Col.-Gen. Gordov, Col.-Gen. Pukhov, Col.-Gen. Zhadov, Lieut.-Gen. Malandin, Maj.-Gen. Lyamin, Col. Belinsky, Lieut.-Gen. Cherokhmanov, Lieut.-Gen. Puzikov, Maj.-Gen. Bakanov, Col. Ivanov, Maj.-Gen. Orlov, Maj.-Gen. Danilovsky, Maj.-Gen. Volkovich and Maj.-Gen. Krasnov; Tankmen commanded by Col.-Gen. Lelyushenko, Col.-Gen. Rybalko, Col.-Gen. of Tank Troops Novikov, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Upman, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Bakhmetyev, Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Belov, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Yermakov, Col. Pushkarev, Col. Khmulov, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Mitrofan, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Novikov, Lieut.-Gen. of Tank Troops Sukhov, Lieut.-Col. Karnyushkin, Lieut.-Col. Shcherbak, Col. Selivanchik, and Col. Turkin; Artillerymen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Artillery Varentsov, Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Kozhukov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Dobrinsky, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Krasnokutsky, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Mentyukov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Nikolsky, Lieut.-Gen. of Artillery Kubeyev, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Poluyektov, and Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Dzevulsky; Airmen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Aviation Krassovsky, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Ryazanov, Col. Nikishin, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Archangelsky, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Zabaluev, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Slusarev, and Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Utin; Sappers commanded by Col.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Galitsky, Col. Poluektov, Col. Kamenchuk, Col. Kordyukov, Lieut.-Col. Skorokhod, and Lieut.-Col. Sobolev; and Signallers commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Signals Troops Bulychev, Maj.-Gen. of Signals Troops Akhremenko, Col. Ostrenko, Col. Borisov, Col. Simkhovich, and Col. Bogomolov.

To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the liberation of Prague shall be recommended for conferment of the name “Prague” and for award of Orders.

To-day, May 9, at 20.00 hours (Moscow time) the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland shall salute with 24 artillery salvoes from 324 guns the gallant troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front which liberated the capital of our Ally Czechoslovakia, Prague.

For excellent military operations I express my thanks to. the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Prague.

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

Death to the German invaders!

J. Stalin

Supreme Commander-in-Chief

Marshal of the Soviet Union

Moscow

("Soviet War Speeches, etc." p. 134)